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Protesters outside court - Source: ONE News -
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The jury has been selected for the trial of four people charged
after the Urewera raids more than four years ago.
All four, including well-known activist Tame Iti, have pleaded not
guilty in the High Court in Auckland.
They are accused of possessing guns and participating in
military-style camps.
The trial comes after a long-running legal battle which resulted in
charges against others being dropped.
It has been just over four years since their arrest, but the final four accused will have to wait one more day before the case against them is revealed.
Iti, Emily Bailey, Urs Signer and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara all face firearms charges and allegations of participating in an organised criminal group.
Outside court, Iti said: "We're here to dispell the illusion, the case that's been put by the crown. And so I leave the matter to the court to deal with. I leave it to my legal council."
Thirteen others had their charges dropped last year after the Supreme Court ruled the video surveillance obtained by police was unlawful and therefore cannot be used as evidence.
Because the other four face more serious charges, the court ruled it can be used against them.
Another man, Tuhoe Labert, died in July last year awaiting trial.
Outside court, Tuhoe supporters, including Mana MP Hone Harawira, still want to see all charges dropped.
"In reality the trial should never have started. That's the point I'm trying to make," Harawira said.
The case has been bounced between every court in the country - from the district and high courts to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court at a cost of millions of dollars.
The case was to be heard by a judge alone, but the accused wanted a jury so took their case to yet another court and won.
Much of day one of the trial was spent finding a jury that can commit to the three-month timeframe that the trial is set down for.
While it is not expected to take that long, some complex issues will be raised - some 88 Crown witness alone will be called.
The four accused will also have a chance to put their own cases
forward. But first the Crown will begin with its evidence
tomorrow.
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