Dr Jarrod Gilbert Sociologist
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The Execution of Christopher Crean

30/6/2015

10 Comments

 
PictureChristopher Crean: Killed for agreeing to testify against Black Power
Today one of the men convicted of killing crown witness Christopher Crean was released on bail. This is the story of that sensational and tragic murder.

In March 1996, a group of Black Power members had attacked a member of the Mongrel Mob outside Christopher Crean’s house in Taranaki. The incident was brutal. The Mob member’s face was slashed, and several of his fingers were severed with a tomahawk.
Crean witnessed the attack and chose to testify against the attackers. Black Power threatened him and suggested that testifying would not be in his best interests. Police offered witness protection, but Crean refused it – a refusal which, while brave, ultimately proved fatal, as Black Power set about plotting his murder. Since 1988, Black Power members from the Taranaki region had twice beaten murder charges. Crown Prosecutor Tim Brewer felt that these cases helped convince the gang they were invincible. Crean, a street-preaching Christian, told his family that God would protect him. His family was less certain. His mother said: ‘I told him he was dealing with the real world, not the spiritual world. But he didn’t have any fear.’

Twice, on the last two Sundays of September 1996, the planned hit on Crean was abandoned – on the second of those nights, Crean was carrying his child and the would-be hit man felt compassion for the youngster. On 6 October, it was deemed that the hit would proceed regardless of circumstances. That night, a gunman carrying a 30-30 Winchester lever-action rifle approached Crean’s house and knocked on the door. As Crean went to answer, a shot was fired. The glass panel in the door offered little resistance and the bullet flew through it, entering Crean’s stomach and exiting out of his back. He died in hospital the next day. The use of a stomach shot was pre-planned as it was considered that a head shot through the door might miss. A Taranaki Black Power member said that the killing had sent a clear message to potential pros- ecution witnesses: ‘Oh, well they know now. Who . . . wants to get in the stand now?’ The implications of this killing for the justice process were plain: if the gang escaped penalty this time, future testimony against gangs would become increasingly difficult to obtain. The police moved quickly to bring closure to the case. Despite the seeming confidence that the killing would deter further wit- nesses, it was from within the gang that crucial evidence was to come. The New Plymouth chapter’s president and the gang prospect who drove the getaway car both gave evidence against their own gang.  Four Black Power members were convicted of murdering Crean and given mandatory life sentences.

The fact that the Taranaki Black Power went after what in the gang scene is often referred to as a ‘baldhead’ or ‘citizen’ (meaning a person without gang or criminal associations) is highly unusual. In 2009, Crown Prosecutor Brewer confided:

         At the time I was unaware of a precedent, and I’m not aware of one [other example] now. This guy [Crean] wasn’t in the gang milieu, he wasn’t in a gang,            he was a
bona fide member of the public – and it was a very big line for them to cross . . . they didn’t see themselves as the enemy of everybody – they                saw themselves as the enemy of the police and the enemy of other gangs. This was stepping outside their ethos.

Most gang members limit their violence to other gangs or gang-associated people. Despite rhetoric about the pressing danger of gangs, ordinary people, or ‘citizens’, ordinarily have very little to fear from gang members, a view endorsed by Cam Stokes, former detective sergeant in charge of the police unit investigating outlaw motorcycle clubs in Auckland: ‘Indirectly they cause harm to many people [via the drug trade and associated problems], but in terms of direct things, no, not a great deal of risk, unless you are involved somehow with them.’

An undercover police officer who infiltrated gangs during two operations in the North Island agrees: ‘The only people who I think have got anything to fear from gangs are people who are intimately connected to them in some manner. They don’t give a toss about the other bal’ heads and squares . . . I mean, you know, who are they to the gang? Nobody.’ Another undercover police officer, when asked if gangs were a threat to the wider public, said:

        No, no I don’t think so. But if you have a debt with them or you have done something to one of their family members or you are exceptionally wealthy               [and in their circles] and you flaunt that and they see you as an easy target, then yes you do. But your “average Joe” blue collar worker who goes to work           in a factory and goes home at night, no.

The fact that Black Power’s New Plymouth president testified in the trial against the killers of Christopher Crean is strong evidence that he, at least, considered the actions of his fellow gang members had crossed a line.

-----------------------------------
NOTE: All references for quotes etc can be found in Patched pp.201-203.

10 Comments
Douglas
15/7/2017 04:43:21 pm

If the new zealand government was fairdinkum in shutting all gangs down they would just do that' but as usual a lack of spine on the governments part means this will happen time and time again 'gangs and clubs are two very different creatures

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Ngatamariki Kiri-Grace
20/7/2017 10:44:31 pm

I agree. Its just going to continue and it will always be another innocent victim who either tried to make it or just didn't.
Society would be a better and safer place without gangs.. They bring nothing but trouble and for those who are not connected and if you've seen something you shouldn't have accidental the protocol in that world doesn't just apply to their own, it applies to innocent people as well "Shut your mouth. Say nothing". That's how it goes.. I should know, I've been harassed for the last three years possibly fourteen (if i really want to be honest with myself )by one gang for no reason i have no idea what their names are but its been a repetitive pattern over these years, same cars. same drivers 24/7. Same harassment methods. And their not just going for a Sunday drive or admiring the color of your house either so I'm a target. What for? I don't know i have read similar stories about this happening to other females in this country, in some cases horrific what they had to endure I'm one of the luckier ones. The Government and the Police need to grow a set and somehow stop gangs all together permanently , I know from experience how vile they are by using tactics and intimidation to get what they want they are cowards.. The worst thing about it all is other people know what goes on and chose not to do anything about it because their in fear don't want to get involved and of course they follow the protocol.
What Chris Crean did back then, i give it up to him for having the courage to step forward and stand up for what he believed in, knowing who and what he was up against. Not many people could have done that good on you bro. Rest in peace.

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Sean Redmond
22/7/2017 07:47:58 pm

Couldnt agree more,these people are a blight of our society,they have no ambition to contribute to a lawful and peaceful society and are glorified by some media,politicians and members of the public.These so called experts who comment on these and other forums and articles and say they only harm their own or people involved in their circle have never had to deal with their form of intimidation and violence or never buried their friend or family member and had to console their wives or children.That is the real truth,death and destruction,lives changed forever,youth misdirected to be tied to a life of crime,broken families,this the real truth.

jay link
23/7/2017 11:11:25 pm

even if they (the police) were fairdinkum to shut the gangs down they couldn't and they need to operate within the law we have a serious gang culture in this country which ain't going to fix anytime soon I feel for Chris cleans family but at the same time glad the main offender has managed to turn his life around would be a hard thing to leave the gang which were once ur brothers can't think what else u would expect from him really

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Ngatamariki- Kiri Grace
25/7/2017 05:08:40 pm

Yep that's absolutely true. The cops? Don't really care as much as they portray , i know of a young mum of where she went to the cops because became a target like me, and those cops sold her out! And now this particular gang are looking for her because they know she went to the cops. She's not affiliated, nope she's just a citizen but became a target like me. And why are we both targets? Because we know the truth. I know what happened to me two years ago in my home, one of them got to me. And now i live with that for the rest of my life, and he's still running around out there probably harming another poor innocent girl who doesn't know what she's in for until its to late..!
My point is, how many more people are going to get hurt because of gang culture? How many more young girls that will be snatched off the street thrown in the back of a van with tints? How many more druggings and rapes? And murders how many more? How many more beatings? How many more young fellas lured into the "Family" promised a good life and then wind up taking the fall for whatever job he's told to do? That young fella ends up with a criminal record before he reaches the age of 20 and spends the majority of his time in&out of prison like a yoyo ends up losing to much already before he's 50
The more voices that are heard? The better. Because i know I'm not the only one who's become a target&victim at the clutches of gang culture. The idea would be to go in mass expose them wither that be in public or through media something along those lines. I use to be afraid of them I'm not anymore i remind myself if need to when i see one of them trying to intimidate me this is what i say to myself " F your tactics. F you all actually". And i look that person straight in the face, and guess who backs away first? Not me. And since their creatures of the night, ok all good i hit all the lights at my house because they? Hate? The lights.. Only because they don't want to be seen doing whatever their doing near someone's house! If Cris Crean could do it back then standing up to those pricks? So can the rest of us. Easier said then done but it would be bloody worth it and in theory it sounds like a marvellous idea stopping gang culture, it does the key is to go in mass.. The more voices that are heard? The better..

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Rocka
28/10/2021 12:31:20 pm

As an ex gang member, I have always stood by the rule of if you are prepared to take a life,be prepared to have yours extinguished. Not a prison sentence.. You join a gang not light heartedly, because if you do so you are no good to that gang. Life for a Life,that's the only way that can go.

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Eritana link
5/1/2018 06:11:14 pm

I know Chris sister,she is my friend...I know since then till know,she has suffered a great loss.Chris was her hero,she has his photo hanging in her sitting room,every where she lives.After awhile she spoke of him,and how rough her life has been and become,quite sad really.She looked up to him,to a big brother,always there for her.She has become a mum herself,also lived the gang life,she is also a grandmother.She hates all of those four gang members hates them to a passion,if she had her way,she would shoot them.They took away someone close to her,her protection of safety.My friend is a very very strong person,she can never move on.....

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Bo
26/12/2018 10:42:48 am

"ordinary people, or ‘citizens’, ordinarily have very little to fear from gang members"

I feel this is incorrect. It may be better worded "ordinary men" or "male citizens".

I know a tiny pension-aged woman in a provincial city who a couple of years ago had a period of gang members appearing on her porch after dark intimidating her in order that she wouldn't go for a fair share in a relationship property settlement.

Ordinary women do have a good reason to be worried because gangs can be bought and sent to do jobs.

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Ngatamariki Grace Kiri
5/2/2019 02:01:40 pm

Gangs in general do not bring anything or anyone positivities. I’m a target for one prominent gang where I am living, I’ve already been raped by one member not once but twice. Why? Because I know things that I shouldn’t so they decided ‘well we better shut her mouth boys’. They expected me to stay quiet, and hide under a rock.. But I didn’t. I got back up on my feet and faced the world again, especially THEM.. I DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG, YET? They targeted me I believe by pure opportunity ‘solo mother’. Working on the fact it was just me and my kids living in our house, with no added security. What they did to me? Was premeditated, after the assaults I had this misguided conception they would leave me alone, nope they haven’t.. It’s 24/7 harassment for me and my kids, it has escalated to the point of where they follow me around, always watching my home, wanting to know who’s at my house, randomly pulling into my driveway at odd hours of the night and mornings, revving past telling bs out the car window their gang sayings etc and all of this is happening to me and my children why? Because I am my own witness to the crimes one of them committed upon me.. so that makes me an absolutely target for them as their protocol goes in that world ‘don’t tell’. Don’t tell..

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RAVeRY POTTERS
9/3/2021 01:43:07 am

JUST SUCH A WASTE OF A GOOD BROTHER! i saw 'resolve' the other night, and it just made me cry for the whole whanau.

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