Teenager Kaine Lewis died following a tit-for-tat confrontation at a time when gangs were very much a part of the fabric of the Murupara community, a jury has heard.
Opening the Crown's case against five Mongrel Mob members charged in the High Court at Rotorua with murdering Lewis, prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch said the 17-year-old had died as a direct result of his scalp being split open and his skull shattered.
Mr Lewis had been caught up in a violent confrontation between the Mongrel Mob and Tribesmen gangs during a rumble at Murupara two years ago.
He was affiliated to the Tribesmen and the night he died he was wearing a yellow hoodie, signifying the gang's colours.
On trial charged with murdering Mr Lewis on October 3, 2009 are Neville Duff, 33, Joshua Paul Leslie-Whitu, 18, Dave Te Wharerangi Rewi, 25, Jurome Takere Rutene and Hemi Winitana, both 19.
They are jointly charged with Norton Tahoe who has previously pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Lewis.
In addition, the accused are charged with participating in an organised criminal group between October 2 and 3, 2009, with Tahoe and Jarrod Tumoana Rewi. The latter two have admitted the charge.
Outlining evidence, Mr Pilditch said Mr Lewis's injuries were inflicted during a confrontation between the two gangs that began when a Mongrel Mob vehicle broke down outside a house where Tribesmen members, affiliates and others were partying.
Bottles were thrown, one smashing the windscreen.
Angered, Rewi, Rutene and Winitana went to nearby Galatea to find guns to kill Tribesmen members.
Returning empty handed the three, along with Duff, Tahoe and Leslie-Whitu, armed themselves with wood, poles, some of them metal, and a cutting implement, probably a knife, before driving to the party house.
Violence broke out when the two groups met and Mr Lewis received the injuries which led to him being pronounced dead at Rotorua Hospital.
The trial is estimated to run beyond the end of the month.
NZN