Gang boss jailed for attack

Hawke’s Bay Mongrel Mob chapter president Terrance Jordan Berryman has been jailed for 23 months after organising and taking part in a “cowardly” attack by 18 mobsters on a man in his own home.

Terika Kiri and George Tyler, were also sentenced to home detention.

All three had pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly and assault with intent to injure. The Napier District Court heard that Berryman organised the attack after his father had been involved in a minor road rage incident in December 2019.

Berryman identified the other driver, then organised his chapter to travel to the man's house at Waimarama.

The group attacked the man in his home while his partner and three children were present. Gang members stood outside to prevent people coming to the man's assistance.

The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, a deep skull laceration, a burst eardrum and other injuries. Judge Geoffrey Rea said during the attack, weapons had been used and the man's head was stomped on, but there was no evidence to determine by whom.

The judge described the attack as “deliberate, calculated and preplanned”, and “cowardly”. It had a dramatic and profound effect on the victim, his partner and the children.

Judge Rea said that Berryman and Tyler had taken part in a successful restorative justice process with the victim, and Kiri had expressed willingness to do so.

The judge sentenced Berryman to 23 months in jail for the assault with intent to injure and nine months for unlawful assembly. The terms would be served concurrently.

Kiri was ordered to serve 10 months and three weeks of home detention, and to pay $1000 to the victim for emotional harm. Tyler was given 10 months of home detention and ordered to pay $1300.

Fourteen other men have already appeared before the court following the attack. Four were found not guilty. Judge Rea indicated there was one more person to be dealt with.