Police have pleaded not guilty to charges against WorkSafe related to the death of Taranaki Fuimaono, a senior Head Hunter member.
fuimaono died in police custody in June 2021. Hundreds of members of numerous gangs attended the funeral in Auckland’s Gray Lynn, which closed roads as the motorcyclists blocked the street and burned it out at the time.
A year later, Worksafe has sued the police three times under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 for failing to meet health and safety standards and their duty of care.
Police confirmed on Sunday that they have filed a not-guilty plea on July 5 and plan to challenge the charges.
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WorkSafe said it was not suing the individual police allegedly involved, but rather the police as a collective. It laid the indictment on June 9.
Fuimaono, 43, was charged with drugs when he was arrested before dying in police custody on June 12.
JASON DORDAY/Things
Taranaki Fuimaono’s funeral blocked the Great North Road and dropped others off at Gray Lynn in Auckland in June 2021.
“As the case is now under court, the police will not comment further on the matter,” a spokesperson said.
At Fuimaono’s funeral, family and the Head Hunters were joined by hundreds of mourners from other patched gangs, including the Rebels, King Cobras, Hells Angels, Killer Beez, Mongrel Mob, and Two Eight Brotherhood, among others.
No tribesmen, Comancheros or Mongols were present.
stuff understood at the time that Fuimaono died after a medical event.
The maximum penalty for the police is a $1.5 million fine.