Man charged with attack on elderly couple back in court

The 29-year-old man faces six charges over the incident that left the couple unconscious in their driveway as an offender took off with their car. Photo / File

A man charged over an attack on an elderly couple in their Onehunga driveway will remain behind bars until next month.

The 29-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court today, where interim name suppression was continued until his next court appearance.

He faces six charges in relation to the incident, in which the couple were beaten unconscious by a man who stole their car. The car was later caught on CCTV ramming another car with a family inside.

On Saturday, Justice of the Peace Susan Walker declined name suppression. However, the man appealed the decision, so interim name suppression was in place until today.

In court today, the man's lawyer argued that the defendant had not had time to inform his family of the charges as he had been held at the police station over the weekend following an issue with overcrowding.

Judge David Sharp granted the continuation of the interim suppression order until the man's next court appearance next month.

However, he said it was "by quite a narrow margin" and he saw "no reason not to" lift suppression at the next appearance.

The defendant's lawyer did not apply for bail, and he was remanded in custody.

Before he was led away, he shouted "love you" to a small group of supporters in the public gallery.

They waved back, and shouted "bye" as he was taken down to the cells.

The man faces six charges, including two of intent to injure over the attack on the elderly couple, two counts of intentionally damaging a vehicle, one of receiving a stolen car, and another charge of unlawfully taking a vehicle.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Otahuhu man is due to appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle related to the incident.

The Onehunga couple suffered injuries to their face when the wife pulled into the driveway and was approached and verbally abused by a man, police said.

The noise attracted her husband's attention, and when he came outside the attacker beat him unconscious.

He then attacked his wife and she too was knocked unconscious, police said.

The couple were taken to hospital and left with severely bruised faces and significant jaw injuries.

They are currently recovering at home.