Two Black Power Members Found Guilty of Murdering Hori Gage in Cold-Blooded Attack

In a shocking and tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, two members of the Black Power gang have been found guilty of murdering Hori Gage in a cold-blooded attack that took place in front of his partner and three young children on a Sunday afternoon in August 2023.

Royden Haenga and Robert Richards, both affiliated with the Black Power gang, were convicted after a nearly three-week trial at the High Court in Palmerston North. The Crown described the killing as a targeted act of retaliation, though Gage had no connection to the earlier incident that allegedly prompted the attack.

The murder happened on the driveway of Gage’s home, where he was waiting for his mother to assist him with jump-starting his car. As he sat in his vehicle with his partner and three children in the back seat, Haenga and Richards, armed with rifles, drove past in a white Nissan Teana. According to the Crown’s evidence, they spotted Gage wearing a red jacket, which they took as a sign of allegiance to an opposing gang, the Mongrel Mob.

They turned the car around, approached Gage’s vehicle, and opened fire. Haenga fired from the side of the car, while Richards advanced toward Gage’s car and shot multiple times. Gage was struck by six bullets, five of which came from Richards' gun. His partner and children watched in horror as the attack unfolded.

After killing Gage, the perpetrators fled the scene, only to return later and instruct three lower-ranking gang members to set the car on fire and destroy evidence. Those three individuals pleaded guilty to arson and were sentenced accordingly. A getaway driver, Neihana Cunningham, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter before the trial and testified as a Crown witness.

Richards denied being in the car with Haenga and Cunningham at the time of the shooting, while Haenga admitted he was present but claimed he had no intention to kill Gage. Instead, he said he wanted to intimidate him. However, the jury was unconvinced by these claims and returned guilty verdicts for both men after deliberating for over 11 hours.

The Crown’s case was built on a combination of CCTV footage, cellphone polling data, and witness testimony. Prosecutors argued that the attack was a targeted execution, carried out in cold blood. They emphasized that the murder was a direct act of retaliation for an earlier incident involving a Black Power member, even though Gage had no involvement in that event.

Defense lawyers attempted to challenge the Crown’s narrative, with Haenga’s lawyer arguing that his client had never intended to kill Gage and that the real perpetrator was the unknown backseat passenger. However, the jury rejected these arguments, finding both men guilty of murder.

The case has sparked a broader conversation about gang violence and the need for stronger measures to address organized crime. The community is still reeling from the loss of Gage, who was a father and a family man. His partner and children were left to grapple with the trauma of witnessing such a brutal act.

The trial has also highlighted the role of witness testimony and forensic evidence in securing justice. The Crown’s ability to piece together the events through CCTV footage and cellphone data was instrumental in proving the guilt of Haenga and Richards. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with gang-related violence and the importance of the justice system in holding perpetrators accountable.

As the legal process continues, the community is calling for more action to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. The loss of Hori Gage has left a lasting impact, and his family is now seeking closure and justice in the wake of this senseless act.