Witness feared being victim

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 8

Witness feared being victim

PA Timaru A man accused of helping two others avoid arrest after they had allegedly shot two young brothers dead said he made no attempt to escape for fear of becoming the third victim. ' : Phillip Raroa, aged 34, a plasterer, of Timaru, told Mr Justice Hardie Boys from the witness-box in the High Court at Timaru yesterday that threats had been made that he and his wife, Gail, or anyone else would be killed if they “narked.” Had he tried to flee the scene when he accompanied the murder suspects to Timaru’s Scenic Reserve to collect ' the bodies, he would probably have been shot in the back, he said. Again, at No. 2 Wharf, before the bodies were

‘submissions by counsel were completed yesterday?- :, - His Honour will sum up on Monday.. Raroa will remain on bail in the meantime. ‘ . The men charged with the murders, Robin Albert Pope, aged 30, and Frederick Llewellyn Williams, also known as Fred Giles, aged 37," unemployed, both of Timaru, are in custody awaiting,.trial in the High Court .in Christchurch on October 17. An application for a change of venue to Christchurch was, granted oh the ground that a Timaru jury could be prejudiced. ,The... vicitms. ■ .were Steven James Hartley and Paul Chapman Wilson, whose, mutilated bodies were washed up ,? on Timaru’s • northern foreshore. qf?

taken to sea. and dumped overboard, he believed he would have been “blasted” if he had tried to run away. * : r \ , The evidence and final

The Crown Prosectuor for the Raroa trial Is Mr Timothy Greeson, with him Mr James Wallace. . The accused is represented by Mr Erno. Bedo: .