A murder defendant accused of killing Mongrel Mob boss Daniel Eliu has lost a battle to keep his identity concealed during the trial. The Court of Appeal has ruled that Thomas Tahitahi’s name can now be published, overturning a previous decision by the High Court to deny him continued name suppression.
The incident occurred in December last year when Daniel Eliu was fatally shot multiple times in front of a South Auckland church. Eliu, also known as Sa-Dan Notorious, was the leader of the Mongrel Mob’s Notorious chapter in Auckland and had been involved with the Grace Foundation, a Christian-based rehabilitation program, for six months.
The shooting took place during a Christmas event organized by the Grace Foundation, where church members were waiting outside for a meal. Tahitahi, who pleaded not guilty to murder, was arrested 12 days after the incident. At his first appearance, he was granted interim name suppression due to concerns of gang retaliation. However, the judge in the case later determined that Tahitahi’s identity was already known among gang members and did not warrant continued suppression.
Tahitahi’s arrest occurred one day after Eliu’s funeral, which was characterized by motorcycle revving, haka performances, and chants by members of the Mongrel Mob. Eliu’s criminal history, including a previous conviction for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, had garnered media attention before his death.
The reasons behind the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow publication of Tahitahi’s name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons at this time. The trial will proceed with Tahitahi’s identity now public knowledge.
