A patched member of the Head Hunters gang this morning admitted killing a Mongrel Mob boss at an Auckland church – and new details of the murder can now be revealed.
Daniel Eliu was President of the Notorious Chapter of the Mongrel Mob before he was shot outside the Puhinui Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday, December 17 in 2022.
"The first officers on the scene administered urgent first aid but sadly the person died," Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va'aelua said at the time, adding "the victim was deliberately targeted".
Later that month, Head Hunters member Thomas Tahitahi was arrested – and this morning at Auckland High Court, he admitted his guilt.
Tahitahi was remanded in custody by Justice Geoffrey Venning.
'He shot the deceased six times in quick succession'
An agreed summary of facts for the case said about 200 people, including children, were at the church when the killing occurred.
It was the last service for the year and a Christmas lunch was planned. Eliu was due to graduate from a Grace Foundation programme that day, the summary of facts added. The foundation helps rehabilitate ex-prisoners into the community.
But then Tahitahi arrived in a Mercedes-Benz with a still-unknown second person.
"The vehicle repeatedly drove up and down Puhinui Road, in front of the driveway to the church, scoping out the area," the document said. "The defendant was dropped off along Puhinui Road and walked to the church."
The unknown driver of the vehicle parked about 300m away as Tahitahi walked down the driveway to the church, wearing a blue hoodie and sunglasses. He carried a semi-automatic .22 gun, hidden under a jacket over his shoulder.
"The defendant milled around the car park for a few minutes before strolling around to the front lawn where a number of people had gathered for the barbecue. He walked right up to the deceased and stood less than a metre behind him.
"With the gun still partially concealed in the black jacket, and in the midst of several bystanders, he shot the deceased six times in quick succession," the court document said. Tahitahi shot Eliu in the back of each leg and then four times in the back.
"The fatal shot was through the aorta (which alone would have killed the deceased)," the court document said.
Tahitahi then ran back to the Mercedes-Benz and got in before the car sped off.
Tahitahi was identified with the help of CCTV footage, a "distinctive" scar on his shin proving crucial.
He's set to be sentenced on August 14.
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