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Tame Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara have been sentenced to two and a half years on firearms charges in the Auckland High Court today.
The Urewera four were sentenced after earlier being found guilty on charges of unlawful possession of military-style firearms and Molotov cocktails at training camps held in the Urewera Ranges in 2006 and 2007 reports stuff.co.nz.
Sentencing for Urs Signer and Emily Bailey is adjourned.
Police at the scene of the Ruatoki raids in October 2007.
After a six-week trial earlier this year, all but Signer were found guilty of five charges of unlawful possession of firearms, and one charge of unlawful possession of a restricted weapon - Molotov cocktails.
Urs Signer was found guilty on four charges of unlawful possession of firearms, and one charge of unlawful possession of a restricted weapon.
Iti, Kemara and Bailey were found not guilty of four firearms charges, and Signer not guilty of five.
The jury was unable to decide on the most serious charge, participating in an organised criminal group.
Defence lawyers argued for discharges without conviction. Justice Hansen denied the applications. Convictions had already been entered and there was no jurisdiction to do otherwise.
The Crown argued for jail terms, saying the crimes were serious and the jury rejected the explanation that the camps were training venues for people wanting to work in the security industry.
Stuff.co.nz reports despite a "Dad’s Army" aspect to the camps, their intent was serious and that a private militia was being established, says Justice Hansen.
If the jury accepted they were wanangas, the camps would have had a legitimate purpose and that would have been a legal defence.
The Crown will not be pursuing a retrial on the criminal group charge, citing cost and difficulty finding an impartial jury because of unprecedented media coverage.
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Posted on 25-05-2012 14:12 | By penguin
Now that true justice has been done according to the laws that govern us all, it is time for Iti’s mates to stop complaining and get on with life. You never know but a bona fide security firm might even give them a real security job!