Mum pleas for no retaliation

Generation F & C criticised

The mother of Nelson man Troy Minto, who was shot dead in Branford Park just over a week ago, has warned his friends not to retaliate.

Shirley Way gave the moving and heartfelt plea during a memorial service on Saturday.

It was attended by about 100 of Mr Minto's friends and family, who gathered near the spot in Branford Park where the 22-year-old died from a  shotgun blast to the chest on November 14.

Among the crowd was his partner of two years, Elisha Maunder, and the couple's 4-month-old daughter, Faith Jane.

Many were subdued by shock and grief at the loss of a friend under ''surreal'' circumstances, said one of Mr Minto's friends, who declined to be named.

Ms Way said after reading a psalm that she did not want anyone else getting hurt. 

 ''I don't want any retaliation - I don't want to lose any more people to this.''

Police have said Mr Minto was shot after two groups of men gathered to fight because of a dispute over a woman, who was not connected to Mr Minto.

Ms Way said she knew that if it was someone else in the group who had been killed, ''Troy would be jumping around'', but she also knew that he would hate to think that anyone would get locked up for stepping in.

Ms Way also pleaded with the crowd to set an example to today's youth.

 ''I know some of you are angry and some of you don't know what to feel, but there are all these young kids out there running around with knives. If anyone can do anything to change that, it's you.

''Remember this is not just about you either. It's about Elisha and Faith too.''

Archdeacon Harvey Whakaruru, who conducted Mr Minto's private funeral service on Friday and Saturday's memorial service, praised the few among the crowd who were with Mr Minto when he was shot.

''You are very special people in lots of ways. You hold on to the sacredness of everything that happened that day,'' he said.

He provided some light relief at the Christian service by permitting people to leave their hats on and smoke in the background.

He said Mr Minto was brought up by his mother with Christian beliefs, and said a special prayer for her and for those present at the shooting last Saturday.

Mr Whakaruru then gave a brief sermon on the characteristics of ''Generation Y'', which Mr Minto and many of his friends belonged to.

''Mind you, after yesterday's funeral I tend to think you're probably closer to Generation F & C and I'm not talking about fish and chips,'' Mr Whakaruru said.

He described Generation Y, born between 1978 and 1994, as tending to live on credit, and spend well beyond their means.

''Generation Y has a sense of entitlement without being restricted by the challenges of the laws, bylaws, and other hassles which try to restrict their lifestyles,'' Mr Whakaruru said.

''Generation Y has also seen worldwide tragedies played out before them on television. They have seen the goodies and the baddies and know their every move as played out through the Xbox.

''But no-one, whichever generation you belong to, would ever believe that this tragic death of Troy could happen in our own backyard and playground here in the Maitai.

''No-one, whichever generation you belong to, has to believe they are unsafe when you help out friends,'' Mr Whakaruru said.

Richmond man Blair Robert McNaughton, 24, has been charged with Mr Minto's murder.

He is also jointly charged with unlawful assembly and possessing a pump-action Mossberg shotgun along with Issac Crawford Warren, 20, Jared Matthew Perry, 22, Samual Ingram Gillbanks, 22, and Timaru man Blake Paul Cunnard, 23.

Perry has been remanded in custody until January 18 for a pre-trial committal hearing, while the other four have been remanded in custody to reappear in court in Nelson this Friday.

- © Fairfax NZ News