NEW ZEALAND - Trial starts for 3 angel members..

OFF THE WIRE
 lyn humphreys
 stuff.co.nz
Trio on trial for perverting justice..
Three Whanganui men have denied perverting the course of justice by trying to force a man – the father of two of them – not to give evidence at an associate's assault trial.
Shane Bullock and brothers Robert and Shannon Britton, in their 30s, are jointly charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice nearly two years ago in trying to dissuade Gary Britton from giving evidence at their friend Wayne Tweeddale's trial the next day.
For the Crown, prosecutor Harry Mallalieu told the jury in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday that the three men went to Gary Britton's home on a rural Whanganui road on October 3, 2010.
Gary Britton is the father of two of the accused, Robert and Shannon Britton.
While there, Bullock, the principal offender, told Gary Britton that if he did not turn up to give evidence at Tweeddale's assault trial, Tweeddale would have a good chance of getting off, Mr Mallalieu said.
Tweeddale was facing trial for a raft of charges after assaulting Gary Britton's partner, Judith O'Hagen, the year before over a property dispute.
Tweeddale later pleaded guilty to all the charges.
Mr Mallalieu said the argument at Gary Britton's went on for about 30 minutes.
Mrs O'Hagen was in the kitchen at the time watching what was going on. The conversation got heated and the three accused left the property. There were two young children in their car which was driven by Shannon Britton.
When police caught up with the three, Bullock's response was that the three men and two children were looking for pigs. They had gone into the property belonging to the Britton brothers' father for a drink of water.
Defence lawyer Roger Crowley, for Bullock, said it was not in dispute his client was at the house that day or that they were all close friends.
But if you were going to intimidate anyone you would not arrive with the two sons of the property owner and also with two small children aged about 1 1/2 and 4 1/2, Mr Crowley said.
What was in dispute was what went on at the property. It was in fact Gary Britton who raised the subject of the trial, Mr Crowley said.
They all had a discussion outside and then left.
Gary Britton himself said that no-one threatened him, Mr Crowley said.
Peter Brosnahan for Robert Britton said there was no point in stopping Gary Britton from giving evidence. He had not seen Tweeddale's assault on Mrs O'Hagen.
The trial, before Judge Geoffrey Rea of Hawke's Bay is expected to run until tomorrow.

Ad Feedback

- © Fairfax NZ New