Businessman smoked P with alleged kidnappers

PHOTO/FILE

A businessman at the centre of a kidnapping and violence trial has admitted using methamphetamine (P) with his alleged captors.

The admission came at the start of the second week of evidence in the High Court at Rotorua in the trial involving nine members or associates of the Head Hunters gang who are facing more than 100 charges relating to alleged kidnapping, extortion and robbery involving the businessman and his 20-year-old employee.

Those on trial are: Benjamin Paul Dwyer, 28, Stephen William Daly, 33, Jordan Alexander Christian, 21, David Peter Clark, 36, Brent Anthony Gunning, 37, Liam John Kane, 24, Matthew John McDonnell, 45, Stacy Walton Dennis Paora, 29 and Sam Wiremu Rolleston 23.

Each has pleaded not guilty to the charges they face either with others or separately.

Referring to his P use, the businessman said he probably bought it more than most, either smoking it or taking it orally, often twice a day.

Pressed by Dwyer's lawyer Tony Rickard Sims, he denied he'd supplied it to his employee saying he'd given the maintenance worker's parents his word he wouldn't allow him to use drugs while he worked for him.

Later, the businessman agreed with Clark's lawyer, John Moroney, that in the weeks leading up to being surrounded and allegedly attacked at his lake retreat, he'd gone "days and days and days" without sleep.

Mr Moroney: "And to facilitate that you were constantly consuming methamphetamine?"

Businessman: "Most definitely."

Mr Moroney: "Sometimes more than two or three times a day?"

Businessman: "As required at that point."

He agreed he was requiring more and more P to stay awake and it was fair to say the combination of that and being woken from a deep sleep when the group burst into his house meant he had some difficulty recounting events.

He confirmed he smoked P with his alleged captors after they'd taken him to his central North Island farm but rejected the suggestion there'd been "quite a party" atmosphere there. He also rejected a suggestion he suffered from delusions.

The trial is into its third week although evidence did not start until October 31. The businessman is the second of more than 100 scheduled witnesses to testify.

The Crown alleges those on trial committed a host of offences across the Bay of Plenty in January and February last year as a way to exact revenge on the businessman, whose identity is suppressed, after he had a sexual relationship with one of the gang members' girlfriend which ended with her in hospital after an incident with a sex toy.

Allegations include beating the businessman unconscious, threatening him with firearms and forcing him to withdraw $10,000.