Gang funeral for Head Hunter Trinity Duffy, who died after police stand-off

A man who died after a police stand-off last month is being farewelled with full gang honours in West Auckland.

Trinity Elijah Duffy, 39, also known as James Helu, died hours after a stand-off with armed police executing a search warrant at his Newington Rd home in Henderson on February 24.

Police retreated and surrounded his property for several hours, attempting to negotiate with Duffy, who was intermittently live streaming on Facebook from inside the house.

The red ute carrying the casket of Trinity Duffy arrives at Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland on Monday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Cordons were established and a stand-off ensued. He was found dead inside the home that evening when members of the Armed Offenders Squad ventured inside.

His death has been referred to the Coroner and is not being treated as suspicious.

Gang members outside the headquaters of Head Hunters West in View Rd, Henderson, before the procession departed for a ride around Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

Duffy was a patched member of the Head Hunters. He has been lying in state at the headquarters of the gang’s West Chapter in View Rd ahead of his burial at Waikumete Cemetery.

On Monday, he was taken in a convoy accompanied by a motorcycle procession from the pad around Auckland.

A patched member of the Head Hunters East chapter begins to turn into Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

There was a low-key police presence around the pad and the cemetery but no checkpoints.

Members of other gangs, including the Hell’s Angels, Filthy Few and Killer Beez turned out to show their support.

39-year-old Trinity Duffy was found dead following a day-long armed stand-off in West Auckland. Photo / Jason Oxenham, Facebook

A patched gang member looks on at the funeral procession for Head Hunter Trinity Duffy aka James Helu arrives at Waikumete Cemetery. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Eagle Helicopter monitored the procession as it moved around Auckland ahead of arriving at the cemetery.

Police said in a statement they would follow up any breaches of road rules.

“Police will be monitoring gang movements through the western suburbs of Waitematā for a tangi today, however there are no planned checkpoints in place.

”We have clear expectations around how we expect those involved to behave.

The ute carrying the casket of Trinity Duffy arrives at the cemetery on Monday afternoon. Photo / Dean Purcell

”Police will have zero tolerance for driving behaviour that puts other road users at risk.

”Any unlawful behaviour will be investigated and followed up with enforcement action.

A patched member of the Head Hunters at the scene told the Herald he viewed the police actions around the funeral and procession as harassment.

The convoy of dozens of bikes made its way from the gang's West headquarters out East then back via Duffy's home for some burnouts before arriving at Waikumete Cemetery. Photo / Dean Purcell

The procession of dozens of bikes spent about an hour riding around the city, stopping briefly for burnouts outside the home in Henderson where Duffy died.

Smoke wafts through the air from burnouts during the funeral procession for Head Hunter Trinity Duffy. Photo / Dean Purcell

Waitematā CIB Detective Inspector Kevin McNaughton earlier said the incident stemmed from a pre-planned search warrant for the gang member wanted for serious offending.

”Upon arrival, our staff were met with extreme hostility from the subject of the search warrant,” he said.

“Cordons were immediately put in place as a result, with some residents in the immediate vicinity evacuated as a precaution.

The funeral procession for Head Hunter Trinity Duffy aka James Helu arrives at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

Police tried to speak to Duffy throughout the day, but he “repeatedly refused to engage” with officers, McNaughton said.

“An investigation will now commence into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner. The Independent Police Conduct Authority will also be advised, as is standard procedure.

“Police would like to acknowledge the Henderson community for their co-operation and understanding, as they were disrupted by the cordons in place throughout the day,” McNaughton said.