Gang pair admit shooting with intent

Two gang members charged with attempted murder after a shooting at a Wairoa service station have pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The guilty pleas came yesterday on the first day of a scheduled eight-day trial in the High Court at Gisborne.

Black Power member Thomas John Huata, 24, and James Maxwell Huata, 22, who are not brothers, had been charged with the attempted murder of Mongrel Mob member Paul Stewart Kahukura in Wairoa on October 29, 2010.

Justice Andrews told the jury that defence counsel Scott Jefferson and Tony Snell had held discussions with Crown prosecutor Steve Manning, which led to the accused pleading guilty to the alternative charges.

The two men also pleaded guilty to attempting to dissuade, by threatening, a witness from giving evidence at the trial.

Thomas Huata pleaded guilty to stealing a motor vehicle in Napier on October 29, 2010, and to damaging the car by fire at Putorino.

They were remanded in custody to the High Court at Gisborne to a nominal date of October 3.

But the men are likely to be eventually sentenced in the High Court at Napier on a date yet to be determined.

Justice Andrews ordered a pre-sentence report and a victim impact report.

An agreed summary of facts would be available at sentencing.Gisborne Herald