Two patched Mongrel Mob members involved in the shooting of a Hell's Angels gang member as he rode his motorcycle on State Highway 2 south of Hastings were each jailed for 10 years today.
Karl Nestor Nathan and Bronson Pekapo, both 27, appeared for sentence before Justice Forrest Miller in the High Court in Napier, today after being convicted in April on charges of attempting to murder Wanganui Hell's Angel president Wayne Tweeddale in February 2008.
Pekapo's stepfather, Sonny Smith, 45, president of Central Hawke's Bay Notorious Mongrel Mob chapter, had earlier been sentenced to eight years jail in the same courtroom for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to another member of the chapter.
Crown prosecutor Russell Collins said today Mr Tweeddale was riding his motorbike between Te Hauke and Otane, south of Hastings when he was selected as a target because he was from a rival gang.
Pekapo and Nathan had been in a car driven by another man when they were texted by a mob member and told to "get" Tweeddale.
After getting a shotgun from the gang pad, they chased the motorcyclist.
"It was a determined attempt to kill another person and could have presented a considerable danger to others on the road that night," Mr Collins said.
Nathan had the gun and fired twice at different times, hitting the motorcyclist in the back. The attack was abandoned because they could not find a third cartridge in the vehicle and their car had a loose wheel.
The motorcyclist received serious abdominal and back injuries and eventually crawled to a farmhouse for help. He had since made a remarkable recovery, said Mr Collins.
Mr Collins said the car driver had been sentenced to six years' jail for his role in the shooting.
Bill Calver, counsel for Pekapo, said his client's only role had been to move out of the way so Nathan could fire at the motorcyclist and to give verbal encouragement.
He said it was "a surprising coincidence" that Pekapo's stepfather had appeared in the same court that day, although his client had been born into the gang culture and it was inevitable that he would grow up to be a gang member.
Justice Miller said the court would show Pekapo leniency when he showed some willingness to give up that gang involvement.
Both of the accused had shown a high level of murderous intent, he said.
NZPA