Mob boss’ story under scrutiny

More questions have been raised about the credibility of a Mongrel Mob boss accused ofmurdering a junior member, with a gang expert contradicting the boss on multiple counts.

Dr Jarrod Gilbert was the main witness in the High Court at Palmerston North on Friday, the last day of evidence in the Codi Wilkinson homicide trial.

Dean Arthur Jennings, Jeremiah andmariota Su’a, Quentin Joseph Moananui and Jason David Signal are accused ofmurdering Wilkinson in September 2019.

They are also accused of kidnappingwilkinson and his friend Kyle Rowe, wounding Rowe with intent to cause grievous bodily harmand participating in an organised criminal group.

The Crown says all the defendants but Signal are Mongrel Mobmembers, who viciously assaulted Rowe andwilkinson with weapons, including amachete, while de-patching them.

Jeremiah Su’a, the president of the Manawatu¯ chapter of Aotearoa Mongrel Mob, told the trial he never committed violence during de-patchings and always did them personally.

But Gilbert, director of criminal justice at the University of Canterbury, said de-patchings were almost always accompanied by violence.

‘‘It would be a hiding.’’

They could be peaceful if it was amutual decision between the gang members, but those were not common, he said.

De-patchings were the ultimate punishment and could also involve people having property taken and further sanctions.