Family and friends embroiled in violent row over drugs, court told

A bizarre tale of drugs, guns and kidnapping involving family and friends is unfolding in a Northland court.

It is alleged five men kidnapped and threatened four teens who tried to steal their cannabis. Three of the accused are related to two of the victims.

The defence says it was the teens growing the cannabis, and they injured themselves trying to flee after being disturbed at their crop.

Standing trial at the Whangarei District Court are Josef Martinac, Clement Turner, Lawrence De Goey and his son Jacob who face charges of kidnapping, using a firearm in the commission of a crime, assault with weapon, injuring with intent and cultivation of cannabis.

A fifth man, Jeffrey De Goey - Lawrence's brother, faces charges of kidnapping, using a firearm in the commission of a crime, threatening to kill and cultivation of cannabis.

The four complainants were aged between 15 and 17 at the time.

The Crown says the four teenagers drove to Whatitiri Rd on March 9 to steal cannabis plants growing on Lawrence De Goey's property.

One of the four, Dillan De Goey - nephew of Lawrence and Jeffrey, now 18, said they had parked next to Lawrence's farm about 7.30pm.

Two teens went to a pine plantation on the farm to steal from a cannabis crop but came back 15 minutes later empty-handed, the court heard. The four allegedly then drove down the road before stopping and heading back up Whatitiri Rd.

The court was told a blue truck pulled up after they stopped to have a cigarette. Two men, one he recognised as Clement Turner and another man he described as a Pakeha in his late 30s and 40s, approached them. One of the four teens was allegedly punched and abused and the keys were taken out of the car.

The two men then left telling the teenagers to wait until they had returned. Jacob De Goey was with the two men and was carrying a .22 rifle, Dillan said.

The teenagers were then driven on to the farm where Lawrence was waiting and Jeffrey De Goey arrived at the property sometime later, the testimony continued.

Once at the farm, the teens' alleged ordeal included being beaten with a shotgun until it broke, being punched and kicked, electrocuted with a stun gun and being taped up before being forced to harvest the cannabis growing on the property, Dillan said.

He claimed a marijuana cigarette was stubbed out on his face and a gun placed in one of his friend's mouths.

About 7.30am they were told to leave the property and later that morning the four laid a complaint with police.

Under cross- examination, Dillan denied that he and his friends had cultivated the cannabis crops on the property and that the injuries he sustained did not come from a beating but from running through the pine plantation and blackberry bushes after being detected and then caught on the property.

He later admitted that he had stolen cannabis from the farm two weeks earlier and had not mentioned that in his police statement.

The case continues.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)