October 15th Solidarity

Raunatiri Hunt, who was arrested on 19 February 2008 as part of Operation 8, will not have to attend the deposition hearing in Auckland in September with his 18 co-accused. His lawyer, Nicholas Dutch, conceded there was a prima facie case to answer but said all of the evidence against Hunt could be dealt with by a depositions hearing in Tauranga.

Crown prosecutor Rob Ronayne told the judge in a pre-deposition hearing on 12 March 2008, he understood that depositions evidence against Hunt - from 13 police witnesses - would all be handed up in written briefs. Ronayne said he still opposed Hunt's case staying in Tauranga - as he did in a previous pre-depositions hearing - but made no further submissions on the issue.

"[There s] obvious prejudice to Mr Hunt if he has to sit there [in Auckland] for two months as well" said Dutch. Judge Thomas Ingram agreed, saying: "In my view, it would be contrary to the interests of justice to remove him to Auckland for a lengthy hearing when the matter can be dealt with expeditiously with a short hearing in Tauranga."

The crown prosecutor stated it was possible the Crown would make a fresh application to transfer the case after depositions. Hunt's depositions hearing was set for May 29 in the Tauranga District Court and he was remanded on continued bail.