Heavy police presence at slain gang boss’ funeral
There was a heavy police presence yesterday at the funeral of the Mongrel Mob boss killed in a targeted attack outside a South Auckland church before Christmas.
Daniel Eliu, 46, was shot dead outside the Papatoetoe SeventhDay Adventist Community Church on December 17 in what police described as an isolated, ‘‘deliberately targeted’’ killing.
Police are yet to make any arrests over the killing and have not answered Stuff’s questions around whether the killing was gang-related. Eliu was the leader of the Mongrel Mob’s Auckland ‘‘Notorious’’ chapter for the last four years and his killing shocked family and mob members.
About 150 mob members and family attended the service at Mā ngere Memorial Hall, with more mob members outside the hall.
A Stuff reporter at the scene said officers in about a dozen unmarked police cars were observing the funeral, with an Eagle helicopter circling overhead.
After the service, mob members on motorcycles rode in convoy to Manukau Memorial Gardens, where Eliu was to be buried.
Police said they had been monitoring the gang movements.
Eliu was given a guard of honour by mob members as his body was taken to the hall by a Tipene Funerals hearse.
Eliu had been at a Christmas service for the Grace Foundation, which helps those from marginalised backgrounds turn their lives around, when he was shot. The alleged shooter lay in wait through the service, according a witness.