No retrial for 'Urewera Four'

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No retrial for 'Urewera Four'

3News NZ

The four will all be sentenced for firearms charges later this month

The four will all be sentenced for firearms charges later this month

The “Urewera Four” will not be retried for charges of belonging to an organised criminal group.

A stay of proceedings to be filed by the Crown tomorrow means the retrial will not go ahead.

The High Court jury could not reach a verdict on the charge, even after the decision was delayed by two weeks by the Crown.

The four will all be sentenced for firearms charges later this month.

Tame Iti, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Emily Bailey were found guilty on six unlawful possession charges – including possession of Molotov cocktails – and not guilty on four other firearms charges.

Urs Signer was found guilty on five charges of unlawful possession of firearms and not guilty on five charges.

The Crown had originally indicated it would opt for a retrial on the lead charge of participating in an organised criminal group.

The jury had been given permission to reach a 10-1 verdict on charges of participating in an organised criminal group but were unable to do so.

The Crown says the group took part in military-style training camps near Ruatoki in 2006 and 2007 in preparation to commit serious violent offences if Tuhoe Treaty of Waitangi negotiations were unsuccessful.

Lawyers for the defendants said suggestions they were planning for violence were fanciful, with three saying their clients were dedicated to peaceful change.

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Comments

9/05/2012 12:24:48 p.m.

TDog wrote:

The courts weren't going to pander to a vocal redneck minority, unless that minority were willing to fork out the money themselves because lets face it we can't afford to keep you guys happy

9/05/2012 11:27:13 a.m.

jono wrote:

"Lawyers for the defendants said suggestions they were planning for violence were fanciful, with three saying their clients were dedicated to peaceful change." I find this statement ridiculous, the only use for the training they were undergoing was revolution and civil war. However because they are a bunch of no-hopers who never would have been able to achieve their aims,and because they hadnt taken the huge moral step of turning their training into action,It would probably be best to treat them with some leniency rather than make "martyrs" of them. Congratulations to the police for this operation.

9/05/2012 1:24:33 a.m.

cyril wrote:

Lets face it the jury didnt have the balls.