Mark Hohua, a long-time member of the Tribesmen gang, was beaten to death by fellow gang members after it was discovered he was secretly using the gang’s bank account for online purchases.
The Crown alleges that the assault, known as a ‘hotbox,’ went too far, resulting in Hohua’s death from severe injuries.
A hotbox is a beating ordered against a gang member for ‘serious wrongdoing’.
The Crown alleges the 48-year-old was killed in a beating which took place at a property in Waimana in June 2022.
Five members of the Aotearoa chapter of the Tribesmen—Te Patukino Biddle, Conway Rapana, Heremaia Gage, Ngahere Tapara, and Dean Collier—are on trial in the High Court at Rotorua for his murder.
The defense argues that there was no intent to kill and disputes the characterisation of the events. The trial is set to last four weeks.
