Nightmare continues for bash victim

Valeriya Nesterova and Denis Khotchenko before the violent beach attack. Photo / Supplied

Valeriya Nesterova used to love the beach and going out at night - now she avoids both because she says she's no longer a brave person.

The Russian-born woman's life changed when she was attacked with metal bars that left her with serious head injuries, major lacerations and multiple skull fractures which required months of surgery.

Her attackers yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting her, her then boyfriend Denis Khotchenko and three others during a violent rampage through the North Shore on January 15, 2008.

On the second day of an expected month-long trial, Harlem Kirton, Piri Kirton, Jono Wilson and Ruamoko Taiapa changed their pleas to guilty on causing grievous bodily harm, aggravated robbery, wounding with intent and assault with intent to rob charges.

Taiapa also pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer. His mother, Kiriana Taiapa, was also on trial and pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact for hiding three metal bars used in the attacks.

Judge Christopher Field convicted them all and called for pre-sentence reports and updated victim impact statements. Ms Taiapa was released on bail, the four young men remanded in custody. They will be sentenced on October 1.

The Crown had planned to call 55 witnesses but only four gave evidence before the surprise guilty pleas. Wilson's came first and the others followed. By 3.30pm the trial was over.

Miss Nesterova, who came to New Zealand three years ago, said she was still affected by the attack. "I still have operations on my ear and missed one semester of university. I get headaches and nightmares about what happened."

The AUT business studies student doesn't remember the entire ordeal because she blacked out as the metal bars were brought crashing down on her head and face.

"I thought I was going to die and that they would kill my boyfriend." She felt the blows to her head but was in so much shock she felt no pain.

"I just felt someone hitting me and felt blood - I was bleeding very heavily."

Desperate for help, she swam across an inlet to safety, fearing her attackers were chasing her. "I don't think they wanted to get wet."

She can still recall hearing one of the men asking her group if they had "ever seen a a real gangster".

"I don't think they were real gangsters. They attacked two people as a group ... they thought they were very cool gangsters."

Miss Nesterova was happy the guilty pleas had at least spared her from having to give evidence.

"I was nervous about it. I think they got what they deserved. People like that don't deserve to be free and walking around."