A planned fist fight that exploded into a fatal shootout has ended with four FITUS gang members being sentenced to life behind bars.
Charles Pongi
The group’s leader, Devonte Iakopo, and members George Mahoni, Vili Laungaue, and Lika Feterika were condemned for their roles in the murder of patched Head Hunter Charles Pongi, who was shot dead after the brawl turned into an armed melee.
Pongi was hit by a single .22 calibre bullet and died in Auckland Hospital, reports say.
The High Court judge handed down the life terms, with minimum parole periods ranging from 10 and a half to 12 and a half years, closing a violent chapter that began with a truce-breaking alliance with the Rebels gang and ended with a single, deadly bullet.
Mahoni and Feterika will serve 11 and a half years and 10 and a half years in prison, respectively, before being eligible for parole, the NZ Herald reported.
“As well as being convicted of murder, Laungaue was found guilty of threatening grievous bodily harm, and unlawful possession of a firearm”, the paper said.
“He also pleaded guilty to three charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, threatening to kill, and threatening to do grievous bodily harm.
“Laungaue, who was 20 at the time of the offending, will serve at least 10 ½ years before being eligible for parole.
:Iakapo, the FITUS leader, also pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm.
He will serve 12 ½ years of a life sentence for murder before being eligible for parole.”
