The father of slain Taupo toddler Moko Rangitoheriri will tomorrow go on trial for alleged firearms offending - the same day his son's killers are sentenced.
Jordan Tawa Rangitoheriri, 29, is scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court at a judge-alone trial. At the same time, the couple who killed 3-year-old Moko will be sentenced for manslaughter in the High Court at Rotorua.
The Herald on Sunday can reveal that Rangitoheriri, a senior member of Black Power's Tokoroa chapter, is facing four charges.
According to the charging documents, on September 24 last year Rangitoheriri was in allegedly in possession of a shotgun without a lawful, proper or sufficient purpose.
He is also jointly charged with receiving two shotguns that had earlier been stolen. The charge sheet states the accused received the guns from "persons unknown".
Rangitoheriri is also facing a charge of driving while disqualified on Christmas Eve last year.
He has been convicted "at least twice previously" for similar driving offences, the court document said.
Police could not comment on Rangitoheriri's case as it was before the courts.
Moko died on August 10 last year after suffering months of violent abuse at the hands of his caregivers.
The 3-year-old was left in the care of his mother's friend, Tania Shailer, and her partner, David Haerewa, for two months while his mother was in Auckland with another of her children at Starship Hospital.
While Moko was in the care of the couple they subjected him to abuse including stomping, hitting, kicking and biting.
On August 6 last year they inflicted horrific injuries on the little boy and left him for four days before calling 111.
When he was admitted to hospital on August 10 he had facial swelling, internal bleeding, septic shock from his leaking bowel and swelling of the brain. He died hours later.
Shailer and Haerewa were initially charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
They will be sentenced in the High Court at Rotorua tomorrow.
