Kidnap accused appears in court

Brett Makiri. Photo / NZ Police

A man charged over a violent kidnapping and a daring escape from Auckland's central police station will face trial.

Brett Makiri appeared in the Auckland District Court today and pleaded not-guilty to charges of kidnapping, escaping custody, injuring with intent and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Makiri will remain in custody until his next hearing on those charges in October.

It is likely he will face trial next year.

In late April the 23-year-old was accused of picking up a 29-year-old woman in Auckland and driving her to Coromandel.

The woman was allegedly assaulted several times before escaping when the car ran out of petrol.

After his initial arrest, Makiri was accused of walking out of the Auckland central police station, where he was being held in an interview room.