Taranaki Black Power turned up in force to support the five accused. Many wore patches and blue bandannas covering the lower part of their faces.
Five Black Power gang members accused of murder will stay behind bars because of fears of witness intimidation.Peri Niwa, 31, a scaffolder, was stabbed to death on November 16 in the New Plymouth suburb of Moturoa.The five have been in custody since being arrested in December.In the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, Judge Allan Roberts declined Adrian Fenton and Rangi Rick Brown release on 24-hour electronic bail, saying the risks to witnesses were too great.Judge Roberts said that on the night of the alleged murder, the five had travelled across town, as members of Black Power, literally to confront another group."There was a shotgun and a knife or other sharp object utilised to stab Mr Niwa," he said.It would be much easier for the gang members to track down and intimidate witnesses if they were out on bail, the judge said.For the two men, defence lawyer Barry Henderson argued that there could be no fear that his clients would intimidate witnesses because they had no i...