Two men are on trial accused of being involved in two attempted armed robberies at the Waihi Mobil petrol station and Park Rd Dairy in Katikati in June 2012.
George Matthews, 20s, aka Rapatini denied two counts of assault with intent to rob when his trial began in Tauranga District Court today.
While his alleged co-offender Jeremiah Reti, who is being tried in his absence after he failed to turn up to court, earlier denied one count of assault with intent to rob relating to the Katikati dairy.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Reti who earlier admitted his role in the Mobil petrol station attempted robbery.
The Crown alleges that within an hour of each other on June 18, 2012 Matthews together with Reti and a third man Rastaman Rapatini were all members of masked trio which brandished offensive weapons, either an imitation pistol and/or a claw hammer at the two complainants.
During the Waihi attempted robbery the female attendant was kicked in the stomach and in the other robbery attempt the dairy owner managed to lock himself in a room at the back of the shop.
The alleged offenders left empty handed, the jury was told.
Rastaman Rapatini, who is Matthews' brother, earlier pleaded guilty to his role in both attempted robberies and has already been dealt with by the court.
The trial is expected to take 3-4 days.