Witness took victim to gang H.Q.

Press, 7 April 1987, Page 5

Witness took victim to gang H.Q.

The’ man, who took Dale Puru to the Black Power headquarters in Rochester Street on July 19 after the pubs closed, told the High Court yesterday that he could not remember much of what had happened because he was “a bit drunk.”

The jury was absent for much of yesterday while defence counsel made submissions about the admissibility of evidence.

Anthony John Lauri Poa, aged 27, said that he knew Puru for about four weeks before Puru died. Puru was staying on and off with him in St Asaph Street after coming out of prison. Puru was on the dole.

On Saturday, July 19, Poa said he went to the King George Hotel at opening time and went on to the Tavern Rachael. During the day he and Puru were drinking in the same school, of up to about 30 drinkers.

During the evening he rang up his girl friends, Aggie and Jewels, and they joined him at the King George. They were there until closing time and then he, Puru, one of the girls and another man got a cab to drive around town looking for a party. Eventually they ended up at “The Rock” — the Black Power headquarters. Although he was not in the gang, he went there most Thursday nights to

drink, Poa said. He was not sure what time he got there. About a week before, on the Thursday night, he had taken Puru to “The Rock” for a drink.

On the Saturday night he introduced Puru to Ardie Beazley, the president of the gang, as his brother. They were not blood relations, but he regarded Puru as his brother because “they stuck together.” Poa said that he did not know the other three accused.

Puru, who was wearing boots, jeans and a black jersey, moved about the bar, drinking and “yakking" with others. Witness sat at his usual

spot at the bar and drank. At times, Puru would come back and * have a few beers with him before moving off again. Not until the early hours had he left to go home, as he was usually one of the last drinking at the gang house. He could not recall when he last saw Puru there, but could not find him when he went to go home. The week before, Puru had just taken off and gone home on his own, and he thought that he had done the same this time, Poa said.

Not until he read the newspaper on the Monday did he know Puru had been killed. Puru had “bugger-all” hair because he had just come out of prison.

Poa said that other members of the gang gave him a ride home in a car. He did not know who they were because he was in the back seat and they had their backs to him.

While at the gang headquarters he had never seen any trouble, inside or out, involving Puru. To Mr O’Reilly, Poa said that Puru had on a home-knitted black jersey with short sleeves.

Detective Sergeant Russell John Hawkes said

that he interviewed Loveland who refused to answer questions or make a written statement.

When charged with the murder of Dale Puru he had nothing to say. His solicitor was present. The same occurred with Moananui, and Mr Lascelles was present when he was arrested on the murder charge.

To Mr Lascelles, Detective Hawkes said that those in the Black Power gang were loyal to one another and. never answered police questions even at times when this was to their advantage to do so. The trial is now expected to finish on Thursday. More court page 6

Three members of the Black Power gang have pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Dale Puru, aged 21, whose body was found in the sandhills at Waimairi Beach, near the end of Marine Parade, in the early hours of July 21 last year.

The Crown describes it as a vengeance killing because Mr Puru was believed to have “narked” on a fellow Black Power member, who was Jailed in Hamilton in 1983 for rape.

Charges of murder have been denied by Gary Andrew James Loveland, aged 21, also known as James Rarere, whose nickname is “Stretch”; Shane Smith, aged 22, also known as Darran Detherri, whose nickname is “Shades”; and Michael Moananui, aged 26, whose nickname

is “Chico.” Ardie Tearoha Beazley, aged 32, self employed, has pleaded not guilty to alternative charges of being an accessory to murder by assisting three others to avoid arrest and of attempting to defeat the course of justice by instructing others to change the tyres on a car.

The Crown is represented by Mr Graham Panckhurst and Mark Zarifeh. Messrs Graeme Brockett and Alister James appear for Loveland, Messrs Laurie O’Reilly and Garry Barkle for Smith and Messrs Gerald Lascelles, and Gerald Orchard for Moananui, and Messrs Mervyn Glue and Tony Garrett for Beazley.

Mr Justice Holland is presiding.