Miru Mark

Background

Background
NZ Herald story here, here and here

Northern Advocate story 14th June 2003
Four men have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a Kaitaia teenager after the Crown said it was uncertain it could prove a murder charge. A jury of eight women and four men were chosen in the High Court at Whangarei on Monday to hear the trial of six men accused of murdering 18-year-old Haymish Cameron on August 25, 2001. However, 14 lawyers involved in the case spent 2 days in legal discussions before the Crown yesterday added an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Crown prosecutor Kim Thomas told the court the Crown would not offer evidence in relation to the six men on the murder charge."The Crown acknowledges that there is uncertainty as to whether or not it can prove murderous intent on the part of any one or more of the six co-accused ... beyond reasonable doubt," Mr Thomas said The six were discharged on the murder charge. The manslaughter charge was read to the six accused - four of whom pleaded guilty. Those to plead guilty to manslaughter were Miru Mark, 18, Dennis Opetaia, 21, Henry Pairama, 40, and Darrin Greer, 37.

Justice Colin Nicholson convicted the four and remanded them to February 24 for a pre- sentence hearing. Etana Heka, 45, and Piki Mark, 38, both pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and were remanded to February 21 for trial. Justice Nicholson apologised to the jury for the inconvenience but said the trial of the two men on manslaughter charges would be considerably less than the eight weeks that had been scheduled for the murder trial. He told the jury they must return to the High Court at Whangarei on February 21.