Court hearings erupt as men appear in the murder case of young Taranaki father Rei Marshall

The public gallery of a court has exploded into emotional scenes of chaos and shouting for a second time in one day after the case of a young father murdered by a Mongrel Mob boss was heard again.

“Oh bullshit, shut the f*** up. He murdered my f***ing son,” the father of slain man Rei Joseph Tumatauinga Maihi Marshall shouted as Hamiora Laupama was sentenced in the High Court at New Plymouth on Friday.

While Laupama, 25, did not murder Marshall, a 23-year-old Taranaki father of two, he has admitted to being an accessory after the fact.

When his sentence of five months’ home detention was handed down, members of the grieving whānau and Laupama’s supporters entered into a screaming match with one another. The details of the murder case and Laupama’s sentencing can be read here.

One man yelled that Laupama, who was close friends with members of the Marshall whānau, was a “Judas”, while another roared with disgust at the outcome.

A woman in support of Laupama, who was a patched member of the Mongrel Mob at the time of the murder, repeatedly shouted at the whānau. The exchange of heated profanities continued between the groups until two men involved left the packed-out courtroom.

The eruption played out similarly to one that took place in the same courtroom only hours earlier.

That was also in relation to the Marshall case and occurred when Turanganui John Ormsby-Turner, 26, appeared to plead guilty to his murder.

At that time, the public gallery was at near capacity with Marshall’s whānau and friends, and supporters of Ormsby-Turner, who is the president of the West Coast chapter of the Mongrel Mob.

Police officers were present and some were seated between the two groups in the gallery.

The charge of murdering Marshall, who was associated with rival gang Uru Taha, in August this year was put to Ormsby-Turner. He responded by pulling down his mask and clearly stating “guilty”.

Supporters of the Mongrel Mob gang president who admitted murdering Rei Marshall. The man on the left was dragged from court by security guards and police amid a fracas.

A conviction was entered and as he was taken into custody a member of Marshall’s whānau called him a “c***”.

There began a heated and loud exchange between the two parties as court security and police worked to hold back supporters of Ormsby-Turner who attempted to set upon the victim’s whānau.

Barking sounds could be heard coming from the men. Barking like a dog is a known Mongrel Mob gang cry.

One of Marshall’s supporters yelled “f*** the mob”.

It took at least five officers and court security to drag one of Ormsby-Turner’s supporters from the courtroom as he continued to push his way toward the whānau, who were swearing back at him.

A South Rd property in New Plymouth was an address of interest in the investigation relating to the death of Rei Marshall. Photo / Tara Shaskey

Once the man was outside, Marshall’s whānau remained in the courtroom. Some embraced one another and there were a number of visibly upset women.

Marshall was stabbed by Ormsby-Turner and attacked with a hammer claw by a 16-year-old on the evening of August 3 at a house on South Rd in New Plymouth.

He was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital by his brother but died shortly after. The teen and Laupama then worked to cover up the murder at the instruction of Ormsby-Turner.

Laupama, Ormsby-Turner and the teen were all charged in relation to the death.

The teen, who has interim name suppression, also appeared in the High Court at New Plymouth today. At his hearing, a murder charge initially laid against him was withdrawn.

He then entered guilty pleas to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and being an accessory after the fact to murder. The public remained calm and quiet at this hearing.

Convictions are yet to be entered for the teen as there is a jurisdiction issue in regard to whether he would be sentenced in the High Court or in Youth Court. A hearing will take place to determine that matter.

Orsmby-Turner will be sentenced on March 6 next year. A cultural report will be sought and a referral will be made to restorative justice.