Taranaki Black Power members planned to gun down Mongrel Mob members at a New Plymouth motel last year, a court has been told.
Speaking from a secret location, Ricky Ricardo Murray, 37, told a murder depositions hearing about the events leading up to the fatal stabbing of New Plymouth man Peri Niwa last year.
Murray had previously appeared in court alongside co-accused, Rangi Rick Brown, 38, Matiu Joseph Pahau, 21, Adrian Fenton, 25, and Mahana Edmonds, 38, but had charges against him dropped after he agreed to give crown evidence.
Speaking via closed-circuit television yesterday, Murray told the court about a plan to shoot into a room at New Plymouth's Auto Lodge where they believed associates of the rival gang were staying, Taranaki Daily News reported.
He said it went awry when he disobeyed orders to wait for armed gang members to arrive and confronted the group.
Murray said that, while the drive-by shooting plan was scrapped, it did not stop further attacks leading up to Mr Niwa's death.
Murray said he did not find out what had happened until after he was arrested and was taken to Manawatu Prison along with Pahau, who told him he had stabbed Mr Niwa.
Questioned by Pahau's counsel, Susan Hughes QC, Murray denied his story was "getting bigger every time he told it", following a 32-page statement he made to police.
He also denied making up the evidence because of his desperation to get out of jail and save his relationship.
Counsel for Pahau and Brown conceded there was a prima facie case established following the evidence, with the pair remanded in custody for call-over on October 21.
Counsel for the remaining accused will argue today they have no case to answer.
