One of eight Mongrel Mob members accused of being involved in a gang confrontation at Murupara during which a teenager was run down and killed has pleaded guilty to participating in an organised criminal group.
Lynette Victoria Teddy entered the plea on the third day of the trial in the High Court at Rotorua today and she was remanded on bail to be sentenced on December 10.
Justice Edwin Wylie discharged her on additional counts of having weapons at two Murupara homes with intent to commit a crime and intentionally injuring Jamie Teremoana Herewini. She faced these latter charges jointly with Quentin Duane Pukeroa and Kingi Morgan Gemmell.
Pukeroa is on trial for the murder of 16-year-old Jordon Herewini by running him down in a truck and attempted murder of Iwi Delamere. He has pleaded not guilty.
Gemmell continues to face the weapons charges and a joint charge with his co-accused of being a member of an organised criminal group.
Also on trial are Jason Kirk Iopata, Massey Ngaheu, Clayton Fox,
Terry John Faataape and William Te Paire Aramoana.
Iopata has pleaded not guilty to suppressing evidence against Pukeroa, Gemmelll and unknown others by hiding a van containing weapons. Iopata faces a single charge of possessing a restricted weapon, a stun gun, at Kawerau on February 4, 2009.
All the accused have pleaded not guilty to being members of an organised criminal group. Faataape has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully possessing a shotgun on February 2, 2009, at Kawerau and offensive weapons, specified as a metal bar and wooden pole, at Kawerau on February 17 last year.
All other charges against all the accused relate to a period between January 27 and February 4 at either Murupara and Kawerau.
When the trial began on Monday Rotorua Crown prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch indicated it centred around a confrontation between Mongrel Mob and Tribesmen gang members.
The court heard members or affiliates of the Mongrel Mob's Kawerau chapter had been at a tangi in Murupara which is recognised as Tribesmen territory.
During a confrontation between the two factions that erupted on January 27, 2009, it is alleged Jordan Herewini was run down, dying en route to Rotorua Hospital.
Mr Pilditch also said that Iwi Delamere escaped being run over "by jumping aside with moments and inches to spare".
The trial has been estimated to run for at least four weeks.
