Bus lounge violence ‘more of a family matter’
A man linked to the Mongrel Mob has described a tomahawk incident at the Riccarton Bus Lounge as “more of a family matter than a gang matter”.
Reggie Kenneth Roberts’ gang links are clear – when he was later involved in a violent confrontation with police at Cheviot he was heard barking like a dog.
“You raised both hands and made barking noises like a dog, consistent with your involvement in the Mongrel Mob,” said Christchurch District Court Judge Paul Kellar as he jailed 21-year-old Roberts for 13 months.
Defence counsel Josh Lucas said Roberts’ pre-sentence report referred to the bus lounge attack by five people as a gang incident, but his client said it was more of a family matter. Roberts was a father of one, who had thrown the first punch in the Riccarton incident, but had then stepped away and did not know the others involved had a tomahawk.
He accepted that he had reacted inappropriately during the police stop at Cheviot, when he perceived that the group was being harassed by the police.
Roberts had pleaded guilty to charges of assault with intent to injure, and disorderly behaviour that was likely to cause violence.
Judge Kellar said he had been one of five people who ran along Division Street to the bus lounge, with someone using the tomahawk to break windows in the victim’s parked car. Some of the group had their faces covered with bandannas.
Roberts threw the first punch at the victim when they were inside the lounge, and others then punched or kicked him and one struck him twice on the top of the head with the back of the tomahawk. The victim had bruising, a black eye, tender ribs, and a cut on his head that needed seven stitches.
The Cheviot incident occurred when police stopped the group’s cars on the way back from Kaikoura, to check for the weapon from the Riccarton incident.
A confrontation developed, and police fired a taser, which had little effect. The officers then drew their pistols. “It was altogether a very bad situation with a potential for absolute catastrophe,” said Judge Kellar.
Two of the Riccarton offenders have been dealt with in the Youth Court, and two have pleaded guilty in the District Court and are scheduled for sentencing on March 24.
Category: News
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