Five appear in court in Whanganui in relation to Mongrel Mob member death

Tuesday, 28 August 2018

Whanganui Mongrel Mob member Kevin Ratana was shot and killed last Tuesday at a Whanganui house.

Five men have appeared in court following a police swoop on Whanganui gang houses after a Mongrel Mob member was gunned down in the street.

The five all have temporary name suppression and will stay in custody.

Police cordoned off Matipo St in Whanganui on Monday as homes were searched as part of a homicide inquiry.

Kevin 'Kastro' Ratana, 27, was killed at a Puriri St, Whanganui, home last Tuesday morning in an attack believed to have been masterminded by rival gang members Black Power.

On Monday evening police confirmed 'a number of people' were arrested and taken into custody.

* Kevin Ratana was an aspiring rapper known as 'Kastro'

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They confirmed on Tuesday that eight men had been arrested in relation to the homicide investigation and were facing charges, including threatening to kill, unlawful possession of ammunition and participation in an organised crime group. Police say more charges are likely.

At the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday, five of the men appeared on a variety of charges.

The first man to appear was charged with participating in an organised criminal group, unlawfully being in possession of a pistol on August 26 and having a crowbar in a public place.

The second man was charged with unlawfully being in possession of a bandolier – a pocketed belt for holding ammunition – containing five 12-gauge shotgun rounds. He was also charged with possessing a cannabis plant.

Two men were charged with participating in an organised criminal group as well as threatening to kill Kevin Ratana on August 21 and threatening to kill another person.

A fifth man was charged with participating in an organised criminal group.

After the fifth man was taken to the courthouse cells, a loud banging could be heard.

Family members of the men appearing in court were in the public gallery.

All five of the men were kept in custody and are due to appear again in September or October.

Away from court, Detective Inspector Ross McKay said as the homicide investigation continued police expected to lay further charges.

On Monday, police cordons were blocking the road in Matipo St, Castlecliff, two streets away from the house where Ratana was killed.

The armed offenders squad was at the scene and police were going in and out of three houses on the street.

One house has a Black Power flag flying from the roof and Black Power members were seen in the street watching police.

Hundreds of Mongrel Mob gang members flooded into the city for Ratana's funeral at a marae north of Whanganui on Monday.