Names to stay secret, rules judge

Name suppression will remain for two men charged with assault.

Two Rotorua men facing charges of assault against a pair of teenagers have been granted continued interim name suppression.

The duo appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday after pleading not guilty and selecting to go to trial by jury.

Each defendant faces two charges of assault with intent to injure against two teenage boys.

Lawyer Max Simpkins said the older defendant had no previous convictions and the younger defendant "only had the odd conviction for drink driving".

"At the time of the alleged offending, the [defendants] knew these children were committing theft in the area and they [defendants] chased them with the intent of rounding them up for police."

Mr Simpkins said if interim name suppression was discontinued, it could "jeopardise the current and future job prospects for the men".Police persecutor Roger Schreuder said police were opposed to continuing interim name suppression with respect to the victims' families, who wished for the defendants to be named.

Judge Geoffrey Ellis granted the pair continued interim name suppression and said the situation would be re-addressed at their pre-trial callover.

The defendants will next appear in Rotorua District Court for their pre-trial callover on July 22.