Jury deliberations interrupted in kidnap trial

PHOTO/FILE

The jury trying nine men on kidnapping and allied violence charges have had their deliberations interrupted in the High Court at Rotorua.

One of their number has a funeral to attend, meaning they will return to their task tomorrow, their lawyers have been told.

Justice Timothy Brewer did not reconvene the court tody but passed the message on via the registrar.

The panel of 11 began its deliberations at midday on Friday. On trial are Benjamin Paul, Dwyer, 28, Stephen William Daly, 33, Jordan Alexander Christian, 21, David Peter Clark, 36, Brent Anthony Gunning, 37, Liam John Kane, 24, Matthew John McDonnell, 45, Stacy Walton Dennis Paora, 29 and Sam Wiremu Rolleston 23.

The 62 charges the jury are required to find verdicts on are kidnapping a wealthy businessman and his maintenance worker, unlawfully possessing a firearm, participation in an organised criminal group, aggravated robbery, robbery, assault with intent to injure, recklessly discharging a firearm, assault with a weapon, injuring with intent to injure, unlawfully taking the businessman's car and theft of another.

The bulk of the offending is alleged to have occurred in various places in the Bay of Plenty on February 17 and 18, 2015 but the robbery charges relate to the previous month when the crown claims Dwyer and Gunning robbed the businessman's partner of her cellphone.

With the exception of Gunning, the accused are Head Hunters' gang members and are charged either separately or collectively. Each pleaded not guilty when the trial began on October 31. The trial is now into its fifth week.