KEY POINTS:
A murder charge was yesterday dropped against one of seven defendants charged over the killing of Wanganui toddler Jhia Te Tua.
The surprise development in the High Court trial at Wellington came after Godfrey Thomas Muraahi pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. An assault charge against him was also dropped.
Muraahi, 27, who has also admitted being part of an organised criminal group, was remanded in custody for sentencing.
Two-year-old Jhia died on May 5 last year after shots were fired at her parents' home during a gang-related drive-by shooting.
Hayden John Wallace, 27, Karl Unuka Check, 26, Ranji Tane Forbes, 21, Erueti Chase Nahona, 20, and Richard Anthony Puohotaua, 28, are accused of her murder. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Wallace, who was the alleged shooter, yesterday gave evidence in his own defence.
Mongrel Mob prospect Shane Roberts earlier told the court he saw Wallace leaning out the window of a car, firing a rifle at the Te Tua home and two men who were on the front lawn.
Wallace yesterday denied his involvement and said he was not aware of the shooting until he heard it on the news the next morning. Wallace also denied being a Mongrel Mob prospect for Karl Check.
Crown prosecutor Grant Burston suggested Wallace did not want to admit being a prospect as doing so would incriminate Check. Mr Roberts had described how Check's car was pelted with rocks and a brick thrown through the window as they drove past a Black Power gathering at the Te Tua house in the hours before the shooting.
He said Check had been very angry and Wallace had told him, "I'll make them pay, I'll get them for you."
Mr Burston said the Mongrel Mob had a meeting the day after the shooting at which it was suggested Wallace turn himself in to the police. He said Check had proposed Wallace be patched as a reward for the time he would serve.
The other murder accused opted not to take the stand but Luke John Check, 24, who is accused of being an accessory to murder after the fact told the court he had been called to the Mongrel Mob pad in Wanganui shortly after the shooting in case of a Black Power attack. He spoke to Karl Check, telling Karl it was his problem and "you should deal with it".
He told the court there were rumours going around the next day that Wallace had been the shooter and had been "patched up".
With no more evidence to be presented, the Crown will begin summing up today.
- NZPA
