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Gang man has no grudge over attack outside court
14.10.2004
By BRIDGET CARTER
The gang member who was attacked after he walked free in the Kevin Weavers
murder trial says he wants no revenge on Paula McBirney, the woman who punched
him.
Long-time Highway 61 member Michael Gould, who was yesterday gardening at his
Whangarei home after spending eight months in custody, said he did not feel
angry with Ms McBirney, a former partner of Weavers.
"When Paula attacked me yesterday, a lot of people would be angry about that.
"People have been wild about her doing that," he said.
"But I said, listen ... you have to realise those girls were grieving and when
people are grieving they do strange things."
But Ms McBirney said she did not care what Mr Gould said.
"I am glad I did what I did and I would do it again if I saw him," she said.
"My son lost a father ... a lot of people will be very angry at the outcome of
the trial."
Police are not planning to charge anyone in connection with the fight that
erupted on Tuesday night after the murder trial of the 43-year-old gang
president a year ago.
The punch-up among Highway 61 gang associates happened outside the High Court at
Auckland just after Kelly Raymond Robertson was found guilty of Mr Weavers'
manslaughter and Michael Douglas Gould and Michael William Brittain walked free.
Mr Gould left the courtroom swearing and gesturing in the direction of police
and Mr Weavers' partner, Paula McBirney.
In retaliation, Ms McBirney and her sister approached Mr Gould outside. He was
grabbed about the face, abused and punched before police arrived and broke up
the confrontation.
Mr Gould, who had a few drinks after the verdict with his daughter and friends
before driving back to Northland, said he was pretty confident he would be
acquitted.
"I wasn't even in the same room as where the action happened," he said.
"But I am trying not to be angry because that is a negative thing, you know?"
He said the wheels of justice had turned slowly for him, but he did not have a
heavy heart because he did not have any guilt.
Mr Gould now planned to move to Christchurch where he had been offered several
months of carpentry work.
"There is no point sitting on my butt pining about things."
But he said he could not understand how Ms McBirney could think he would do
anything to "Link" (Mr Weavers), whom he called "a really good friend of mine".
"He used to come up here and stay at my place. I used to stay with him at the
pad. I have known that man for 24 years and we have never once had words."
Ms McBirney said the only reason Robertson could get into the Highway 61
headquarters in Manurewa and fatally stab Mr Weavers was because he was with Mr
Gould, a patched member.
A lot of people would be "very angry" Mr Gould had been acquitted, but she would
not comment on the possibility of retribution, saying only that her former
partner had a huge number of supporters.
Police said they would be ready to respond if the trial's outcome had more
repercussions.
The Crown said when Mr Weaver was killed, Robertson and Mr Gould went inside the
gang pad while Mr Brittain sat outside in a vehicle.
It was alleged gang associate Mr Brittain wanted Mr Weavers dead after five
people, including Mr Weavers, had previously assaulted him with hammers.
