KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting a twelfth man over the killing of a two-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting in Wanganui, and say the Mongrel Mob will have to live with the shame of her death forever.
Jhia Te Tua was killed after Mongrel Mob members shot at the Puriri Street house where she was lived with her mother and Black Power member father on May 5.
Two local men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested and charged with murder on June 5, and nine more arrests were made today, after dawn raids on houses in Wanganui, Marton, Palmerston North and Kaikohe.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann said the nine men were being charged with murder in Wanganui District Court this afternoon, and their ages ranged from 18 to 27.
"One further murder arrest will be made, however this person is still to be located," Mr Bensemann said.
He said police had been looking for the man today but had not yet found him.
Three of the offenders were already in prison at Wanganui, Linton and Rimutaka when they were charged, he added.
Police Area Commander Duncan MacLeod said earlier today the large number of arrests was due to the law allowing murder charges to be laid against those who were present at the shooting, or party to it.
Another two people were charged with being accessories after the murder , and five arrests were made, unrelated to the murder but for offences uncovered during the investigation.
These were for drug dealing, kidnapping and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Mr Bensemann said police were confident they knew exactly what happened when Jhia was shot, and exactly who was involved.
Senior Mongrel Mob members had been given the opportunity to co-operate in the investigation, but instead set about hindering police, he said.
"The Mongrel Mob will have to live with the shame of being somewhat responsible for the death of a baby, forever."
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said the new arrests were the result of excellent police work, and marked an opportunity to deal a crushing blow to the Mongrel Mob.
Gang members were terrorists who contributed nothing to society and gangs needed to be eradicated, not managed, he said.
"Police need the powers and the resources to harass, harry and disrupt gangs. The community deserves to be protected from their crime, intimidation and menace ."
- NZPA
