'Where's the money?': Hastings man's brutal samurai sword attack

Zane Korari Mete Lewis, 29, of Hastings at a previous court appearance. He was to face a trial next month but pleaded guilty to five charges. Photo / File

A gang member who for more than a year denied any involvement in a samurai sword attack on two others has finally admitted charges in Napier District Court.

Zane Korari Mete Lewis, 29, of Hastings, was to face a trial next month but pleaded guilty to five charges, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.

Having also admitted one charge of aggravated robbery, and two of injuring with intent to injure relating to the attack which happened on May 20, 2018, along with other charges related to separate events, he has been remanded in custody by Judge Geoff Rea for sentencing on February 4.

Girlfriend and co-offender Amelia Nihera Stewart earlier this year, aged 26, pleaded guilty to charges of assault with intent to injure, burglary and assault and was sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision.

She had been in custody for 16 months on remand, a Judge indicating she would otherwise have been sentenced to two years and eight months in jail.

A police summary of facts says the pair and a third person went to an address in Park Rd North, Hastings, tapping on windows to attract the attention of the occupants who kept quiet to pretend no one was home.

One of the visitors entered through a window and opened a door to allow his associates in before they burst into a living room as one occupant was calling the police.

Lewis then attacked one occupant with "a sword similar to that of a samurai sword", the first strike aimed at the head was deflected as the man fell to the ground with a gash and a broken arm.

Stewart had attacked and punched a female occupant.

Lewis used a steel chain as a weapon during the attack.

The male complainant managed to flee to get help, and the intruders turned their attention to the second occupant, Lewis hitting her in the head with the handle of the sword as he demanded: "Where's the money?"

She was also stomped and kicked by the pair before they left with the third person in a vehicle in which they had arrived at the address.

The male victim later required emergency surgery, with other injuries including a 10cm-deep cut through his bicep and a cut across the width of his back. His fellow complainant received bruises to the head and arms and also suffered burst blood vessels in one eye.

Lewis later told police he knew nothing about the attack and claimed he had been home all night with his flatmates.