Pukenui man denies charges over alleged bid to steal loader

A 47-year-old Pukenui man denied charges of wounding and committing a dangerous act, both with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, that stemmed from an alleged attempt to steal a front-end loader.

When he appeared before Judge Greg Davis in Kaitaia District Court last week, Paul Martin Harvey, who elected trial by jury, was further remanded on bail to July 28 for a case review hearing. No request was made for the renewal of the interim name suppression order that was imposed at his first court appearance.

The charges relate to an incident at Pukenui on April 20, which resulted in a teenager being admitted to hospital with shotgun pellet wounds, after an attempt was allegedly made to steal a front-end loader from the property.

The teenager was subsequently transferred from Kaitaia Hospital to Whangarei, although his injuries were not believed to be serious.

Harvey's lawyer asked that the trial be scheduled for the Whangarei District Court, as opposed to Kaikohe, because that would be more convenient for her.