Hamilton gang shooting over deal gone bad
Wednesday, 18 July 2018
A shooting at a Hamilton house that left one man dead and two others injured was an ordered hit by a rival gang, a source close to the investigation claims.
The revelations come as police investigate two other gang-linked slayings in the region.
The hit on affiliates of the Mongrel Mob - the country's largest gang - was ordered by the Tauranga-based motorcycle gang Greazy Dogs after a failed deal with the Mob, the source alleges.
It is understood police have obtained correspondence between Mob members discussing the gang deal.
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* Trio of Hamilton homicides linked to gangs
* Fire at house of Hamilton's fatal shooting**
The target of the shooting was senior Mongrel Mob member Mark Griffiths.
The early hour hit on July 8 resulted in the death of Robert Nelson, 23, who was the partner of Griffiths' daughter Kahlee Marfell, 20.
It is understood three men brandishing guns knocked on the door of Griffiths' rented Matthews Crescent home in Melville just after 1am.
Marfell answered the door and the men asked for her father.
In a panic, Marfell attempted to slam the door and run from the gunmen.
She was gunned down in the hallway.
Nelson, who was in bed at the time, came out of the room and was fatally shot.
A 17-year-old who was staying at the house came out of one of the bedrooms after hearing the commotion and was shot multiple times in the head and torso.
He remains in a critical condition at Auckland Hospital.
Marfell underwent surgery and has since been released from Waikato Hospital.
Sources close to the investigation said Griffiths was at the address when the shooting happened.
The house owners say Griffiths had installed a keypad lock on the bedroom door.
Five days after the shooting, the Matthews Cres house was set alight.
A car was seen leaving the scene just after 9pm.
Since the shooting and fire, the Mongrel Mob have heightened security and members are armed, a source close to the investigation says.
And it's not just the gangs that have ramped up numbers.
More than 60 police staff are working on three investigations that police believe were targeted acts by gangs.
In June, Waikato man Wayne Noda, 48, was found dead in the living room of his Berrymans Access Road home, behind Huntly Power station. He died of injuries inflicted during an assault.
And on Friday, Ngāruawāhia man Mitchell Curtis Rehua Paterson, 26, who has links to the Greazy Dogs, was found in the water below McLaren falls bridge near Tauranga.
Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley confirmed on Wednesday Paterson was beaten before he died.
Police have located a Nissan Terrano they believe was linked to his death.
They are now seeking sightings of the light coloured vehicle travelling between Hamilton and the Tauranga area between Wednesday 11 July to Friday 13 July.
Pitkethley said each homicide was being investigated individually. Those involved had links to several different gangs.
'It's a coincidence in regards to the homicides in a short space of time. There are links through the inquiries in regards to the people that are involved and associated with gangs.
'There is no information to say they are linked although with any inquiry we'll keep an open mind.'
He moved to reassure the community, saying each of the killings were targeted attacks on individual people within the gang fraternity.
There has been no indications to date of any gang retaliation, he said.
Pitkethley would not confirm whether the armed intruders had targeted Griffiths at his home on July 8.
Nor was he willing to disclose how many shots were fired
Police had made three arrests related to Paterson's death.
A 27-year-old man was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder by assisting another man - still wanted by police - to dispose of the body.
Another man, Leon Colin Wilson, 49, was charged with presenting a firearm against a member of the police. Wilson pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a loaded sawn-off shotgun, and guilty to a charge of breaching prison release conditions by tampering with an electronic bracelet.
The Hamilton East man was arrested following an armed police raid on a home in Pohutukawa Dr in Pukete on Sunday night.
A 33-year-old was also arrested during the search and charged with breach release conditions.
All three men have been remanded in custody.
Anyone who may have information on any of the three homicides that could assist with the investigations is asked to contact Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200.
Information can also be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police released a statement on Thursday, a day after this article was published, in response to the story.
They would not go into any detail about the case other than to say the claim the shooting was an ordered hit by a rival gang was 'not information provided by police' and that it is 'inaccurate'.