Man, 18, pleads guilty to stabbing tourists

Photo / File

An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to stabbing two tourists in Taupo early this month.

Jason Jordan McKenzie faced two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, after the men were stabbed in separate incidents on June 7.

McKenzie appeared in the Rotorua District Court today and pleaded guilty to both charges.

His lawyer asked for a psychiatric report to be done and used for sentencing.

Judge Geoffrey Ellis remanded McKenzie in custody for sentencing next month.

Both tourists were airlifted to Rotorua Hospital after the stabbings.

A 42-year-old Wanganui man was treated and discharged for a stab wound to the upper chest. A 24-year-old was admitted in a stable condition with a 6cm wound to his torso. He returned to Australia two days later.