Hells Angels Member Claims Christmas Day Murder Was Accidental

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On Christmas Day two years past, Andrew Lamositele-Brown, a member of Hells Angels, dropped off his family at a relative’s residence before proceeding to an undisclosed location where he was gifted three items that would later play crucial roles in a homicide. This involved a bottle of Hennessy Cognac, a handgun that required immediate disposal, and a purse filled with bullets.

Hours later, the acquaintance of the gang, Petau Petau, was found dead in Brown’s Flat Bush residence after a heated seven-hour police standoff. Taking the stand, Lamositele-Brown illustrated to the court, using his hands, how he held the new pistol sideways, boasting it to Petau in a gangster style after the clock had chimed the hour of 1 in the early Boxing Day.


According to the accused, his friend’s sudden eagerness to inspect the firearm led to a reflexive recoil from Lamositele-Brown, setting off the handgun with a deafening “Bang”.

In court, Lamositele-Brown maintained his stand that it was an unfortunate accident, showing no emotion as he explained the incident to the jury. However, upon viewing a photo of the dead body presented by his lawyer, he began to tear up.

Recounting his account of the chilling night, the defendant insisted everyone was in good spirits, himself and the now deceased Petau included. After Petau’s arrival at his home, the two of them had shared some drinks and casual chitchats about their Christmas celebrations. He claimed that he unintentionally triggered the handgun while showing it off to Petau, freezing in shock as his friend collapsed in the following mayhem.

The prosecutors, however, portrayed a starkly different scenario departing from accidental discharge, but rather provoked by a cocktail of excessive alcohol consumption, rage, and possibly jealousy. They underscored this narrative with Lamositele-Brown’s volatile remarks to police during the standoff, as he expressed resentment towards both his instrument supplier and his deceased friend.

The tense standoff was followed by Lamositele-Brown’s terse conversations with the police, filled with an array of emotions dominated by fear, frustration, anger, self-loathing, and at moments, suicidal thoughts. His fear was accentuated by the perception of being a gang member, preconizing a fatal end.

Despite the ongoing trial in the High Court at Auckland, the defense hasn’t concluded its examination of Lamositele-Brown. The prosecution is expected to cross-examine the defendant soon as the enthralling trial continues under the eagle eye of Justice Sally Fitzgerald and the jury.