Sharon Salt yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell
The hearing into the possible eviction of an Owairaka family heard police testimony yesterday of abusive and anti-social behaviour, in blunt contrast to the claims of previous witnesses supporting the tenants.
Dozens of complaints have been made against the family of Sharon Salt, some of whom have alleged
links with the gang Dope Money Sex.
Some of Mrs Salt's nine sons, one of whom appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday on aggravated robbery charges, have been accused of acts of vandalism and violence against neighbours in Range View Rd.
Yesterday's tenancy tribunal hearing at the same court heard statements from police officers which contradicted those of previous neighbours and friends of the family.
Sergeant Scott Leonard of Avondale police detailed a number of incidents he had been called to at the house, including one time when one of the Salt boys allegedly pointed an imitation pistol at him.
The Salt family's lawyer, John Foliaki, argued the pistol in question was actually a toy but Mr Leonard asked him if he had ever had a pistol pointed at him.
"It's very difficult to know when it's real or when it's not," he said.
The court also heard how a group of boys associated with the Salt family would congregate at a nearby park and drink alcohol, on one occasion throwing bottles at a police car, cursing the officer with gang slogans. But witnesses who spoke in favour of the Salt family said they had been subjected to continued and unfair police harassment and deserved to stay there.
Mr Foliaki said most of the complaints were "historic" and the anti-social behaviour had decreased over the past year.
He said Mrs Salt's tenancy agreement with Housing NZ should not be affected by her out-of-control children.
Adjudicator Amanda Elliot criticised Housing NZ for its lack of documentary evidence against the family. The family's fate is expected to be decided today.
