Black Power trio jailed for gangland bashing

Three men with links to the Black Power gang have been jailed for a brutal gangland hit in New Plymouth.

On Thursday Laurence Te Ruki, a patched member of the Taranaki Black Power, William Pouha, the president of the gang’s Christchurch chapter, and Zinzan Tamou appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove in the New Plymouth District Court for sentencing.

The trio had been found guilty of charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and participating in an organised criminal group following a week long trial in November.

The charges related to the brutal bashing of Rory Ruddell who was attacked outside a Spotswood house on August 13, 2016.

The assault left Ruddell with a broken nose, severely swollen face and bruising to his body after three men rained down kicks and punches on him while he was on the ground.

Large pools of blood were visible on the grass verge and roadside at the scene.

While the men who appeared for sentencing had no physical involvement in the bashing, they had organised it.

Pouha had ordered the hit because Ruddell had gone to an address where his ‘‘niece’’ was with a firearm.

Tamou lured Ruddell to his house on the ruse of buying some dive gear but as soon as he arrived Te Ruki turned up with three other men who ambushed him and carried out the prolonged violent beating.

During the trial a police gang expert told the court gang members used violence and threats of violence to achieve their goals.

Sygrove sentenced each of the men to five years imprisonment.

In June, Jason Sean King, Damien Aaron Ngataierua and Hohaia Tara Joe Tane were all sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment for carrying out the attack on Ruddell after pleading guilty.