Police have arrested three young men and charged them with the violent robbery of an Auckland liquor store.
The 55-year-old owner of Three Kings Liquor Centre was almost killed when he was stabbed with a broken bottle and his 21-year-old son was also seriously injured during the May
7 robbery.
The three, aged 16, 22 and 23, will appear together in Auckland Youth Court today, jointly charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated wounding.
The 16-year-old and 22-year-old allegedly entered the Mount Albert Rd store late on a Wednesday evening.
When they tried to run off with two bottles of alcohol the owner's son tackled one to the ground and a fight broke out between the intruders and the father and son.
Both family members suffered serious wounds inflicted by broken bottles.
The intruders allegedly ran to a car in which an accomplice was waiting.
Medical staff said the father lost a lot of blood and came close to dying. It was only because of care given by police at the scene that he survived.
He received a blood transfusion, and the son was treated in hospital for stab wounds and cuts to his face and arms.
Detective Sergeant Geoff Baber, of Avondale police, said it had taken two months to make the arrests as police had to wait for forensic evidence which provided fingerprints and DNA from the scene.
Officers also had to speak to many people before narrowing their search to a few suspects.
Despite their age, the two older men are appearing in Youth Court with the teenager because the charges are laid jointly.
Today's hearing is likely to decide where to send the case.
- NZPA
