Men charged over Rotorua street fight named

Six men charged in relation to a street fight in Rotorua in September can now be named, after their interim name suppression lapsed.

Aaron Leslie Davis, 34, Cheslea Tamati Hicks (also known as Cheslea Werahiko), 31, Casey Teiwa Puru, 29, Tiwha Joseph Ransfield, 31, and Piki Tane Riki, 21, appeared before a registrar in Rotorua District Court today.

None of them applied for their name suppression to be continued.

The sixth accused is William James Whata, 34, who was not required in court as he is recovering from serious injuries suffered when he was struck by a car during the fight on Koutu Rd on the afternoon of September 30.

All six have been jointly charged with damaging a utility vehicle and possessing an offensive weapon - either a piece of wood or an iron bar - with the intention of using the weapon to commit an offence involving bodily injury and or threats of violence. Davis is also charged with injuring with intent to injure another man.

The men did not enter any pleas, and all have been remanded on bail to appear in Rotorua District Court on November 8.

The 15-year-old driver of the car that struck Whata appeared in Rotorua Youth Court on Tuesday, and indicated he intended to plead guilty to a charge of wounding a man with reckless disregard for the safety of others.