KEY POINTS:
Five men accused of murdering a Wanganui two-year-old were today remanded in custody without plea to July 19, when others charged with the toddler's killing will also face the court.
A woman charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice was also remanded at large to that date.
All appeared in Wanganui District Court today. Their names were suppressed.
The charges arise from the death on May 5 of Jhia Harmony Te Tua, killed after Mongrel Mob members shot at the Puriri St house where she lived with her mother and Black Power member father.
Two of the men appearing today were charged with murder a fortnight ago. The others were charged after last week's high-profile mass wave of arrests in the central and lower North Island, and in Kaikohe, which brought the count of people charged with the murder to 12.
Police say the incident was a result of tensions between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power.
About half a dozen identified Mongrel Mob members were in the public gallery today and exchanged hand gestures with most of the accused.
- NZPA
