Two young men appeared in Tauranga District Court today following an alleged raid on a city dairy on Saturday night.
Before Judge Thomas Ingram at different times were Michael Williams, 23, a foreman, and his cousin Jamie Williams, 19, a trainee arborist.
The pair both faced charges of
aggravated robbery and dangerous driving.
They were remanded without plea until June 30.
Michael Williams was bailed to a Tauranga address and Jamie Williams to the Te Awamutu home of his mother and stepfather.
Under strict bail conditions they are to have no contact with each other or with their alleged victim, are under an all night curfew, must not take alcohol or illicit drugs and are banned from being on Levers Road in Tauranga (the vicinity of the Matua Dairy).
The younger defendant, represented by lawyer Tony Balme, will be kept in custody until tomorrow (Tues) when his parents are able to come and pick him up.
Peter Attwood appeared for Michael Williams.
Prosecuting Sergeant Sean Brennan told the judge that bail was not opposed by a senior detective because of a lack of criminal history and the fact that all the stolen property had been recovered.
Fourteen-year-old Karamjit Singh was working in the family dairy on Saturday when a man allegedly grabbed him by the throat, demanding cigarettes.
Tauranga police said two men wearing hoodies and with their faces covered by bandannas, entered the Matua shop about 6.20pm on Saturday.
They grabbed packets of cigarettes, dropping some, as they fled to a car.
After a high speed chase, during which they allegedly stopped and changed drivers, the men were pulled up by a police pat rol and arrested.
- NZPA
