SunLive – Rotorua rapper found guilty in shooting trial

His latest album released in September, Rhythm and Mobster Vol 2, contains a song called When I’m free. Lyrics include: “I put my patch on and I’ll be ready to blow up whoever talks about me and my motherfucking gang runner goes bang bang”.

Prosecutor Mike Smith told the court that was the Crown’s case. Nuttall was heading towards central Rotorua with two children in his silver Mazda, after picking them up from school around 3pm.

Smith said there were numerous roadworks at the intersection of Te Ngae Rd and Tarawera Rd and Nuttall was stopped at a red light. He got out of his vehicle to speak to someone in a vehicle behind him.

When the light turned green, Merito drove his black Ford Territory past where Nuttall was standing and it appears words were exchanged.

A photograph from the Facebook page of Temm Dogg, also known as Tihema Nuttall. Photo/Facebook.

Smith played CCTV footage to the jury which he said showed Merito slowing down as he passed Nuttall.

Smith said Nuttall got into his vehicle and chased Merito. He drove alongside Merito’s vehicle and shot him through the window with a shotgun.

Pellets flew through Merito’s passenger window and hit his face and head. Glass and shrapnel entered Merito’s eyes, face and forehead.

Merito told the jury during testimony that there was a flash of light and everything went white and he went blind.

Tihema Nuttall was found guilty this week of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a shooting on Te Ngae Rd. Photo / Andrew Warner.

Merito said he had surgery at Waikato Hospital and was still suffering from vision problems. Merito, who identified Nuttall as the shooter during a police patrol, said there were two children in the car.

Police used CCTV footage to track down the registered owner of the vehicle. They found the vehicle in Rotorua city center around 4.30pm and arrested the driver, Nuttall.

The defense case

Nuttall’s attorney, Andy Hill, closed the defense’s presentation Tuesday afternoon, telling the jury that a key aspect of the case was that Merito, by his own admission, was guessing when he named Nuttall during a police lineup.

Hill said Merito did not have a full view of the face of the man he passed. The weather was wet and Merito should have focused on driving.

He said Merito admitted during his evidence that his eyesight was not the best because three years ago he suffered from borderline type 2 diabetes, a condition he now suffered from.

Hill told the jury not to read too much into the clothing seen in the CCTV footage. Even though Nuttall was wearing a gray hoodie with Everlast on the front when he picked up his kids from school, that didn’t necessarily mean he was the same person seen minutes later as the hoodie-wearing shooter gray.

Hill said footage of Anytime Fitness at the Te Ngae Rd intersection after 3pm showed a man getting into Nuttall’s Mazda wearing a gray hoodie, but it could not be seen if there was a logo Everlast on the front.

Hill noted how common gray hoodies were, pointing out that one juror wore one.

“Generally speaking, the clothing matches but we do not deal with generalities in criminal matters.”

He added that even if it was true that the Mazda car was involved in the shooting, since gunshot residue was found in the car, the jury had to be sure that Nuttall was the shooter.

“I accept that it is suspicious that Mr Nuttall was found an hour and a half later driving the same vehicle… but the police have no idea where that vehicle went during that hour and a half. “

Hill said the Crown’s case was based on circumstantial evidence.

The jury took two hours to find Nuttall guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on Wednesday.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Anna Skellern, who presided over the three-day trial, until February 3 next year for sentencing.

The rapper “came from the gutter”

Temm Dogg’s social profiles describe him as the founder of MOB Music.

The rapper “came from the gutter and lived a life of drugs, crime and prison” and his music was a reflection of his life experiences.

He made music to provide “a feeling of therapy for my own well-being” and because it was his passion. He said he plans to turn negatives into positives by sharing his story in articulate poetry.

“I’m trying to prove that no matter where you come from in life, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and there will always be a way out, which means there will always be a better day. .”

The rapper wrote that he has been trying to lead by example since 2015, although he said he had to start again several times.

“I’m very humbled because I know I’m far from perfect and I don’t have all the answers, but I have a dream, and I will hold on to that dream, and I will never let go. “

-Rotorua Daily Post.