The accused man appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Thursday. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The accused man appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Thursday. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A man accused of robbing a Rotorua taxi driver at gunpoint has appeared in court.
Tatahoro Papera Rangi, 26, appeared in the Rotorua District Court before Community Magistrate Sherida Cooper on Thursday.
The Rotorua man did not enter pleas to charges of robbing a taxi driver while in possession ofan offensive weapon, namely an airsoft pistol, and a charge of unlawfully carrying an airgun on Pukuatua St.
Both charges relate to an incident in the early hours of Thursday this week.
Rangi’s lawyer, Scott Mills, initially asked if he could apply for bail for his client, but Cooper indicated it was not within her jurisdiction.
Rangi was instead remanded in custody to reappear in court before a judge on Monday.
Police said in an earlier statement that the driver picked up a man in Selwyn Heights early on Thursday.
Police allege the passenger produced a pistol after his payment was declined, then forced the driver to hand over cash from the taxi and obtained from an ATM.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
