Pubdate: Mon, 28 Nov 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Northern Advocate
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

FAMILY AND FRIENDS EMBROILED IN VIOLENT ROW OVER DRUGS, COURT TOLD

A bizarre tale of drugs, guns and kidnapping involving family and
friends is unfolding in a Northland court.

It is alleged five men kidnapped and threatened four teens who tried
to steal their cannabis. Three of the accused are related to two of
the victims.

The defence says it was the teens growing the cannabis, and they
injured themselves trying to flee after being disturbed at their crop.

Standing trial at the Whangarei District Court are Josef Martinac,
Clement Turner, Lawrence De Goey and his son Jacob who face charges of
kidnapping, using a firearm in the commission of a crime, assault with
weapon, injuring with intent and cultivation of cannabis.

A fifth man, Jeffrey De Goey - Lawrence's brother, faces charges of
kidnapping, using a firearm in the commission of a crime, threatening
to kill and cultivation of cannabis.

The four complainants were aged between 15 and 17 at the
time.

The Crown says the four teenagers drove to Whatitiri Rd on March 9 to
steal cannabis plants growing on Lawrence De Goey's property.

One of the four, Dillan De Goey - nephew of Lawrence and Jeffrey, now
18, said they had parked next to Lawrence's farm about 7.30pm.

Two teens went to a pine plantation on the farm to steal from a
cannabis crop but came back 15 minutes later empty-handed, the court
heard. The four allegedly then drove down the road before stopping and
heading back up Whatitiri Rd.

The court was told a blue truck pulled up after they stopped to have a
cigarette. Two men, one he recognised as Clement Turner and another
man he described as a Pakeha in his late 30s and 40s, approached them.
One of the four teens was allegedly punched and abused and the keys
were taken out of the car.

The two men then left telling the teenagers to wait until they had
returned. Jacob De Goey was with the two men and was carrying a .22
rifle, Dillan said.

The teenagers were then driven on to the farm where Lawrence was
waiting and Jeffrey De Goey arrived at the property sometime later,
the testimony continued.

Once at the farm, the teens' alleged ordeal included being beaten with
a shotgun until it broke, being punched and kicked, electrocuted with
a stun gun and being taped up before being forced to harvest the
cannabis growing on the property, Dillan said.

He claimed a marijuana cigarette was stubbed out on his face and a gun
placed in one of his friend's mouths.

About 7.30am they were told to leave the property and later that
morning the four laid a complaint with police.

Under cross-examination, Dillan denied that he and his friends had
cultivated the cannabis crops on the property and that the injuries he
sustained did not come from a beating but from running through the
pine plantation and blackberry bushes after being detected and then
caught on the property.

He later admitted that he had stolen cannabis from the farm two weeks
earlier and had not mentioned that in his police statement.

The case continues.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin