Death of a gangster

By ALAN PERROTT and NATASHA HARRIS

Police are anxious to solve the killing of an Auckland gang president quickly before it leads to more violence.

The president of Highway 61's Auckland chapter, Kevin Paul Weavers, was found severely injured at the gang's headquarters in Manurewa early on Saturday afternoon and died in hospital about 1.20pm.

"Often when things like this happen there's a major concern that it will be the precursor to more violence," said Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Hallett, the officer heading the investigation.

"That's why we have to solve this as quickly as we can."

Mr Hallett would not comment on reports that Weavers, a 43-year-old mechanic known as "Link", was stabbed in the stomach and legs. The weapon involved has not been found.

Weavers had a long history of convictions including for firearm offences, escaping from custody and being part of one of the biggest car theft rings in the country in the early 1990s.

Mr Hallett said police were investigating if Weavers' death was linked to action taken after the March kidnapping of his son, Steven.

The 19-year-old went missing for almost 24 hours after being beaten with a wheel brace and stabbed by two men at a home in rural South Auckland.

"We're not aware of any link at this stage but obviously that possibility has occurred to us," Mr Hallett said.

The Herald has learned that a few weeks ago, members of Highway 61 took possession of Harley-Davidson motorcycles from Steven Weavers' kidnappers.

It is understood members of the gang from around the country are travelling to the Manurewa headquarters.

Mr Hallett said he did not know about Harley-Davidsons being taken or gang members coming to Auckland.

"I can't predict what's going to happen, but I have no power to stop people travelling around New Zealand, and if they wish to come and take part in the grieving process it's not something the police can interfere with."

The reason for the attack was not known but Mr Hallett said police had several lines of inquiry.

"From what we know, there wasn't a function on there [at the gang headquarters] or anything. We understand there were only a couple of people there, but that's all we know at this stage."

Other gang members and Weavers' family were co-operating with police.

"They [his family] are very much focused in the same direction as we are. They're determined that whoever's responsible for Mr Weavers' death will be called to account," Mr Hallett said.

The headquarters building is sealed off and a forensic team is examining the scene under tight security.

The building, in Holmes St, Manurewa, is in the middle of a light industrial zone of small factories and warehouses, with no nearby homes.

It is a single-storey building surrounded by a metal fence with a large gate and is monitored by several security cameras.

A black 1996 Mercedes-Benz saloon, registered to a Hamilton address, with a smashed windscreen and damaged wing mirror, is in the carpark outside the doorway into the building.

Highway 61 is the country's largest multicultural motorcycle gang and has about 100 members in nine chapters.

At least one chapter has been established in Australia.

Weavers was one of three men charged with the rape of a woman in Howick in 1984.

Five years later, he was involved in a clash between Highway 61 and Black Power which left five people in hospital with shotgun wounds.

In February 1993, Weavers was sent to jail for five years for his role in what was then said to be one of the biggest car theft rings in the country.

Weavers, who admitted 29 charges of receiving stolen cars valued at $944,000 and 10 charges of false pretences, sold the cars to friends and family.

In October the next year, he escaped from Mt Eden Prison. He had been working outside the prison and was reported to have gone to an Auckland address after a friend said she had been violently assaulted by an associate of Weavers.

The friend wanted Weavers to intervene on her behalf.

The attacker was not at the address and Weavers returned to prison about an hour later. He was sentenced to another month in jail.

His son's kidnapping in March was not investigated by police because the gang refused to co-operate.

The kidnappers also held a knife to the throat of another man and said, "We'll be back", before bundling Steven Weavers into the boot of a car and speeding off.

The teenager was later found by Highway 61 members.

Weavers' death is not the first time a Highway 61 member has been killed inside one of the gang's properties.

Bradley Haora was shot dead with a shotgun in 1975 at a gang property in Mt Eden.

Seven Hell's Angels members received prison sentences of up to 10 years for their parts in the death.

Highway 61 was formed in 1968 and the name refers to a Bob Dylan song in honour of a member who died in a road accident.

The gang was registered as a motorcycle club in 1970.

- Additional reporting: NZPA