One of the four men charged in relation to a home invasion burglary attack in Whakamarama during which another man was severely assaulted and lost an eye has been freed on bail.
Carl Tremayne, 43, of Judea faced joint charges of aggravated burglary, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodilyharm, injuring with intent to injure in Tauranga District Court today.
Police allege that on December 22 last year Tremayne and three other masked persons entered a Plummers Point Rd address and assaulted the two occupants aged 31 and 50.
The older man was so severely beaten he had to have an eye surgically removed, police say. Police opposed bail for Tremayne and the other three charged men.
Judge Paul Geoghegan said after hearing legal arguments from Tremayne's lawyer Glenn Dixon he was satisfied that he could grant bail by a "very fine margin" subject to raft of conditions.
That included imposing a nightly curfew, a ban on Tremayne associating with any of his alleged co-offenders. He is also barred from contacting any police witnesses and the two complainants.
Tremayne, who has denied the offences, is due back in court on January 28.
Two of the other alleged offenders, Jay Beguely, 24, of Tirau and Te Puke man Takatu Ahomiro, 38, made their first court appearances in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
Beguely was granted bail on strict terms, while Ahomiro was remanded in custody. Both men, who are yet to enter pleas to the charges, are due back in court on January 31.
A fourth man Tama Waitai, 27, who was also granted bail when he appeared in court on Tuesday, after denying the charges.
Waitai is due back in court on March 11 for a case review hearing.
