Accused on mission 'to get gang rivals'

A Black Power member and three gang associates were on a "mission to intimidate" anyone connected to the Mongrel Mob on the night they beat a man to death, a court has been told.

Two men and two women are accused of murdering freezing worker Paul Shane Kumeroa, 29, who was bashed in Wanganui as he walked home on September 25 last year.

Their trial began in the High Court at Wanganui yesterday.

Crown prosecutor Harry Mallalieu told the jury that Black Power member Clarke McCallum, 35, and Daniel Rippon, 23, had beaten Mr Kumeroa with an axe or baseball bat because he was wearing a red hoodie, the colour associated with the rival Mongrel Mob gang.

The pair, along with co-accused Jamie Ahsin, 24, and Raeleen Rameka, 20, had gone out of their way to confront anyone who they thought could be associated with their rivals, Mr Mallalieu said. "Paul Kumeroa happened to be wearing the wrong clothing at the wrong place at the wrong time."

He had no connection with the Mongrel Mob.

Earlier that day, McCallum and Rameka had an altercation with a Mongrel Mob member at a supermarket. The group had also confronted a man at Rameka's house who they believed was linked to the Mongrel Mob.

"They were now clearly on a mission to threaten and intimidate anyone who they believed had any semblance of association to the Mongrel Mob."

The group came across Mr Kumeroa as he was walking home in Castlecliff and confronted him. He was drunk and could not defend himself as Rippon and McCallum punched him.

McCallum had then got a baseball bat or an axe and struck Mr Kumeroa on the head, Mr Mallalieu said. Mr Kumeroa died in hospital the next day.

The trial is continuing.

- © Fairfax NZ News