Urewera trial set to start today

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Mon, 13 Feb 2012 5:53a.m.

The protesters are 'peaceful' and being watched over by police (file)

The protesters are 'peaceful' and being watched over by police (file)

By 3 News online staff with NZN

A crowd of over 100 has gathered outside the High Court in Auckland where the trial of those charged in connection with the 2007 Urewera police raids is set to start.

The crowd, carrying banners and flags, is said to be peaceful and is being watched over by around a dozen police officers.

Protesters include veteran activist John Minto, Valerie Morse, along with supporters carrying the Mana Party, Tuhoe and Maori sovereignty flags.

Prominent Tuhoe activist Tame Iti, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara, Emily Bailey and Urs Signer stand trial in the High Court in Auckland today, facing charges of participating in an organised criminal group and firearms charges.

Police made the arrests after alleging there were military-style training camps in the Urewera mountain range in eastern Bay of Plenty.

The trial has been delayed due to numerous legal arguments since the initial arrests.

Iti, Kemara, Bailey and Signer were among more than 17 people arrested in a series of raids by police around the country on October 15, 2007.

Most of the accused face firearms charges, but these were dropped in September 2011 after the Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that unlawfully filmed footage could only be used against the four charged with membership of an organised criminal group and not those facing firearms charges only.

Today’s proceedings are expected to see the jury empanelled and then an opening address from the Crown.

The trial is expected to take several weeks.

3 News/NZN

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Comments

13 Feb 2012 02:39p.m.

jan.. wrote:

The Iwis do' have a say' they want the charges dropped, but they must legalise their training camps and training material is best, and to also explain the reason behind it.. The Aotearoa never used have terrorist or gangs, the bad influence comes from abroad..
We would appreciated and happy to see PEACE between the Iwis and the Law..
PEACE helps to keep the Aotearoa clean and healthy.. Goodluck..


13 Feb 2012 11:54a.m.

ridley wrote:

Don't think these guys need to worry about the outcome of this.Thats why its taken nearly five years to get to this stage. Politically its in the too hard basket, so will be thrown out,excuse for this will be lack of evidence.Luckily for these guys they did not download any music/MPG/WAV files.I wonder how much this is costing the tax payer.

13 Feb 2012 11:42a.m.

Martin wrote:

Obviously there is more to this than most of the public knows or there would be not be grounds for a court case. Regardless of the case details there are two points. If I was seen with an illegal firearm in public (Does not need to be filmed just seen by someone) I would be in jail faster than you can say jail yet these "people" can do what they want. Second more of a question, does John Minto have a job or is he a season dole bludger jumping in on any protest "available"?

13 Feb 2012 06:29a.m.

accsux wrote:

THAT AINT A TRAIL ITS A FARCE...

against the four charged with membership of an organised criminal group

YEA THERES A CRIMANAL ORGANIZED GROUP IN NZ ALRIGHT..

THERE THE ONES THAT CAN CHANGE THE LAWS AFTER THE FACT ....OF THERE CRIMES..