The boxer, his wife and the mobster

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

FAMILY LINKS: David Tua, right, leaves the High Court in Hamilton with Roger Laybourn, the lawyer for his wife's cousin and alleged Mongrel Mob kingpin, Sonny Fatu who is on trial for conspiring to supply methamphetamine.

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The wife of champion boxer David Tua has spoken in support of a Hamilton mob figure who says he turned his back on gang dealings to focus on his family.

Robina Tua yesterday gave evidence at the High Court in Hamilton in support of her cousin and alleged Hamilton Mongrel Mob kingpin Sonny John Fatu.

Fatu, 43, together with Paul Mark Golding, 44; Priscilla Paretutaki Hayward-Howie, 42; Rocky James Manga, 30; Mose Douglas Iakopo, 28; and Michael Ormsby, 27; is charged with conspiracy to supply methamphetamine. The accused, with the exception of Golding, are also charged with conspiracy to sell cannabis.

Ormsby faces a further charge of conspiracy to supply lysergide (LSD).

Mrs Tua, who was accompanied in court by husband David Tua, described Fatu as the "head" of her extended family. She said Fatu organised a lot of family events and was a key figure in planning reunions. The pair and their children were in regular contact.

In his opening address, defence counsel Roger Laybourn said Fatu had moved from his role as gang president to focus on his family and work with disadvantaged youth. Fatu's lifestyle change, Mr Laybourn said, was prompted by the failing health of his late partner, Priscilla Te Hei. Ms Te Hei died in September last year while Fatu was in custody awaiting trial.

The defence's portrayal of Fatu as a "family man" is in stark contrast to Crown claims he was the gang's "dogfather". The Crown alleges intercepted text messages and phone calls between Fatu and the five accused showed the gang were conspiring to supply the drug P. A key Crown claim is that Fatu organised a trip to Auckland to purchase $16,000 worth of P from King Cobras member Golding in 2007. Jurors were told intercepted discussions to buy "airfares" in Auckland represented plans to purchase P. However, Fatu's niece, Janelle Tharp, yesterday told the court Fatu had been organising a family trip to Samoa in the months before his arrest.

She said Fatu was the family's "main person" and took it upon himself to organise family members' airfares and source possible group discounts. Mr Laybourn said Fatu approached Golding to see if he could supply the family with discounted airfares.

He rejected the Crown's claim that discussions between the pair to purchase "bookings" and "flights" were coded messages for drug dealing. Mr Laybourn said Golding worked extensively in the music industry and had experience in organising group trips.

Danny Leaosavaii, co-founder of South Auckland hip-hop label Dawn Raid Entertainment, also spoke in support of Fatu, saying the accused wanted to use hip-hop music to positively influence Polynesian youth. Mr Leaosavaii, aka Brotha D, said Fatu was instrumental in bringing Samoan hip-hop act Boo Yaa Tribe from the United States to New Zealand.

While in New Zealand, the group spoke to youth about gang culture in Los Angeles and the impact of the Bloods-Crips feud on the community. Mr Leaosavaii said Golding also played a key role in organising the group's New Zealand tour, providing backstage support, transport and security at concerts.

The trial continues.

- © Fairfax NZ News