Trio jailed over Taupo driveby shooting

Three Taupo men have been jailed for their role in a driveby shooting of another Taupo man in February. File photo / NZ Herald

Three Taupo men have been jailed for a total of 13 years for their role in a driveby shooting of another Taupo man in February.

Cody Griffin, 19, Takau Vakatini, 17 and Leighton Anderson, 17, were sentenced in Taupo District Court last Friday after earlier pleading guilty to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Griffin also admitted unlawful possession of ammunition.

The 17-year-old victim was shot in the abdomen from a passing car as he and a friend walked to the shops on February 16.

The bullet became lodged approximately 15cm into his right thigh. He was initially treated at Taupo Hospital, then transferred to Rotorua Hospital for further surgery.

Griffin, the shooter, was jailed for five years three months; Vakatini, the driver of the car, was jailed for four years; Anderson, a passenger in the car, was jailed for three years nine months.

- NZPA