Gang shooting trial: Witness tells of terror

The eight Mangu Kaha members are on trial in the High Court at Rotorua. Photo/File

A witness in a Rotorua trial has told the court how he had arranged for the police to falsely arrest him after he was allegedly shot at by two gang members.

The man was testifying via CCTV in the High Court at Rotorua on Thursday where eight Mangu Kaha (Black Power) members are on trial.

They are George Robert Jolley, Cramer Tana McMeeking, Chadwick Tamahou Matapuku, Daniel Tere McMeeking, Waimarama Horomai Te Kani, Robert Julian Dashwood, Christopher John Jolley and Major Wetini (also known as Ransfield).

The lawyers of the eight accused questioned whether the witness was able to accurately identify those involved in the confrontation on Turner Drive on December 11, 2015.

He'd earlier told George Jolley's lawyer, Sam Wimsett, he wasn't lying when he testified it was Jolley who'd fired the first shot.

He said he'd been able to identify Dashwood from a photo montage of people who all had the same facial tattoos.

In response to Daniel McMeeking's counsel, Jonathan Temm, the witness agreed he'd organised for police to falsely arrest him some days after the show-down.

"It was for my safety, I was in terror," the witness said.

Questioned by crown prosecutor, Andy Hill, about his admission that he'd been a methamphetamine and synthetic cannabis user, Witness A said he was "clean as a whistle" the day of the shooting.

George Jolley has denied a charge of attempted murder.

Between the eight accused the group face charges (either jointly or separately) of intentionally discharging firearms to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawfully possessing and discharging firearms and possessing offensive weapons and being unlawfully on property. Each defendant is also charged with participating in an organised criminal group.