Dragging-death mate says 'We are not a gang'

Morris Thompson-Jackson's friend Faafetai Lafoula died last Friday. Picture / Greg Bowker

Morris Thompson-Jackson wipes away the tears as he talks about his two mates who were killed in Otahuhu within a month of each other.

He was with his friend Faafetai Lafolua when he was run over and killed by a car last Friday night.

The 24-year-old father of three was mowed down while attending a vigil at a makeshift shrine erected to teenager Haruru Pekepo, who was shot dead in a fight last month.

Mr Thompson-Jackson is heartbroken they are gone, but he's also angry. He's angry that the deaths have been reported as "gang-related".

"It's really confusing because nobody has come to us and asked us about it.

"They've just heard it was gang-related from somebody else or from the police and now we've been labelled a gang," the 22-year-old said last night at a friend's house in Otahuhu, just metres from where he lost his two mates.

"We are not a gang. We are hard-working men with families."

His claims are at odds with those of the police, who still maintain the deaths were gang-related.

Another friend, David Laui, 27, arrived at the scene on Friday night to find his friend run over.

He was also present the night Haruru Pekepo was shot.

"I got shot in the arm that night ... The hardest thing is that two brothers have gone and we are trying to get over it," Mr Laui said through tears.

"We want to clear the smoke. The cops said what they said and now it's our chance to speak and say our bit."

The men said they had named their touch rugby team SPI, South Pacific Islanders, but somehow that had been reported as the name of their gang.

"We are not a gang and never have been," Mr Thompson-Jackson said.

"It makes me feel angry and sad that people are saying we are ... The police should get their facts right before jumping to conclusions.

"We are just like every other group of boys that have grown up with each other."

They said revenge was the last thing on their minds.

"We are still going through the pain."

Mr Thompson-Jackson said his group of close-knit friends had attended the same schools.

"We sometimes dress the same because we have been around together a while.

"We don't understand why both friends have died ... We can't say we aren't worried [about our safety].

"Any person in our position would fear for their life and family.

"I would like to be able to change what happened, but I can't."

Prestman Vesiputa Tauira, 25, has been charged with the murder of Mr Lafolua. He is due back in court today.

Tauira is alleged to have run over Mr Lafolua, then driven off with him still trapped under the vehicle.

It is alleged he dragged Mr Lafolua's body for 2.4km from Awa St on to Great South Rd.

Two men have been charged with Mr Pekepo's murder.

Police say they have no doubts they are dealing with gang turf wars and identify the groups of young men involved in the violent clashes as gangs - they wear red or blue colours to display their allegiance and take a name, often shortened to the main initials, that reflects their geographical location or ethnicity.

Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford, head of Counties Manukau crime investigation bureau, called the killing of Mr Lafolua an escalation of "turf wars" in South Auckland.