Jail for supermarket gang fight
Three Black Power associates have been sent to prison, being denounced by a judge for taking part in "18th-century tribal warfare" following a gang fight in Napier.
Wendy Annas, 33, Ngeri John Tareha, 19, and Dane Preston Makene, 28, appeared for sentence after surprising their own counsel, the jury and judge by pleading guilty on the first day of a scheduled trial.
Previous hearings were told the accused were Black Power members or associates who remonstrated with two young Mongrel Mob members wearing their "colours" in a supermarket on June 18 last year. A violent clash ensued. Both Mongrel Mob members required hospital treatment.
All three were sentenced to eight months in prison. Annas had her prison term increased due to lack of payment of over $12,000 in fines, a repeat failure to do community work and threatening to kill a civil servant.
Judge Tony Adeane said: "The 21st-century community will not tolerate 18th-century tribal warfare between rival groups."
