Multiple men have appeared in court charged with fighting in a public place following an incident at Super Brown in Nikao on Sunday January 28.

Justice of the Peace John Whitta was not impressed when the first group entered the Criminal Court on Thursday.

“I understand we have a whole lot of people who were involved in an incident,” he said following the appearance of the one of the defendants, Juranice Marsters.

“He is the last person who will come in here and lounge like that,” JP Whitta said, describing the defendant’s stance in the dock.

“I know there has been some sort of trouble; when you come in you should stand up straight.”

Lawyer Tai Nicholas, who was representing a number of the defendants, agreed, adding they also needed to dress appropriately.

Also read: Police probe Nikao brawl

Again, JP Whitta warned one of the defendants, Rui Meti Nicholas, when he appeared in the dock, telling him not to wear a singlet in court, but to always wear sleeves.

The appearances related to an alleged brawl where Police were called about a large number of youths fighting on the roadside.

Two groups were reportedly involved in the brawl.

Further fighting was reported and Police subsequently obtained camera footage of the incidents.

Multiple arrests were made on Wednesday.

Police said the spread of charges includes fighting in public, assault with intent, and dangerous driving, adding further arrests were likely as the investigation continued yesterday.

In court yesterday, Itiao Unuka was the first to be called, charged with fighting in a public place. His lawyer Norman George sought an adjournment to February 15 while bail conditions included not offering violence, not interfering with witnesses and surrendering his passport.

Tamatoa Nicholas then appeared, represented by Mark Short who sought an adjournment to February 29 on a charge of common assault. He was told not to offer violence, not to interfere with witnesses, surrender his passport and report to police once a week.

Juranice Marsters, charged with fighting in a public place, was told to be back in court on February 15, surrender his passport, not to offer violence and not to interfere with witnesses.

Albert Junior Nicholas was also told to come back on February 15, charged with fighting in a public place. His bail conditions were the same as those given to Marsters, before him.

When Rui Meti Nicholas appeared on a charge of fighting in a public place, police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo declared a conflict of interest.

“These boys are my nephews, they are my neighbours, I know them well.”

JP Whitta acknowledged Tararo’s statement.

Rui Meti Nicholas was told to be back in court on February 15, not to offer violence, surrender his passport and not to wear a singlet to court again.

This next group of alleged brawlers entered the court after the first group had all made appearances and left the court. 

Extra court staff were on duty to monitor the situation. 

Ngatungane Tamarangi, charged with fighting in a public place, was told to be back in court on February 22, not to offer violence, not to apply for a passport and not to interfere with witnesses.

Ngatokorua Metuaarea, also charged with fighting in a public place, entered a guilty plea.

The court heard he was exchanging punches with another person on January 28 and was arrested on January 31.

Aged 18, it was his first appearance in court.

JP Whitta told him he would be ordered to come up for sentencing within three months, which meant he could be sentenced on the charge if he was charged with another offence within the three- month period.

He was convicted and told to pay $50 court costs.

Jade Steven Simpson, also charged with fighting in a public place, entered a guilty plea.

Aged 20, it was his first appearance in court, He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentencing within three months. He was told to pay $50 court costs.

Travel Tauputa, charged with fighting in a public place, entered a guilty plea.

Police noted his prior court appearances, prompting a request for a probation report.

He was told to be back in court on March 26.