By Charlotte Shipman
A Palmerston North judge has got so fed up with some of the friends and family of the accused, that he kicked them out of his courtroom.
They were supporters of the seven men and one woman facing charges, after last week's police raids on suspects in a north island drugs ring.
Defiant gestures from the dock and communicating with those in the public gallery of a court is against the rules, so Judge Nevin Dawson made sure his courtroom knew who was in charge.
“You will not react to people in the dock, you will not wave or make signs or any indication to them, if you do so again you will leave the courtroom,” he said.
Tepiwa Riwai's mother flouted Mr Dawson’s warning and was told to leave.
“I made it very clear before there is to be no communication between the public gallery and those in the dock,” said Mr Dawson.
Riwai is one of eight who face drugs related charges.
They are part of last week's police operation which targeted methamphetamine and gangs, including the Australian-based Rebels, throughout the North Island.
Seven have been remanded in custody and all will reappear in two weeks.
Despite Dawson's repeated calls for etiquette to be followed, there was a final round of support for Jack Whakatihi.
Of the 31 arrested in Operation Stamp, at least 25 have been charged and have either appeared in court or are scheduled too.
Police say the rest will be charged by the end of the week.
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