Accused of pointing a gun at woman while she held baby

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A man accused of pointing a 12-gauge shotgun at a woman’s head while she was holding a baby, has been granted electronically-monitored bail.

Raniera Tekooti Reuben, 31, appeared on Monday in Gisborne District Court, where his application for bail at an out of town address was heard and granted by Judge Turitea Bolstad.

Police believed the incident on Saturday, March 18, last year, was gang-related.

Reuben and an associate, who is yet to be identified, allegedly went to the complainant’s house in McDonald Street, Gisborne, at about 4.15pm.

Reuben, said to have been carrying a firearm, his co-accused carrying a hockey stick, allegedly announced he was there for money and drugs.

The complainant refused to let them into the house so Reuben allegedly broke a window and climbed through it. Police claim he then put the firearm to the woman’s head and told her to run or he would shoot her.

She fled with the child to a neighbour’s house.

Reuben faces charges for unlawfully carrying a firearm, burglary with a weapon (the shot gun), and threatening to kill.

He has pleaded not guilty and is next scheduled to appear in court for a Crown case review hearing on June 21.