Kidnap-charge Pair Sent For Trial (Press, 14 February 1976)

On 13 February 1976, in Blenheim, two 18-year-olds—a youth and a girl—were committed to the Supreme Court for trial after appearing in the Blenheim Magistrate's Court on serious charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, and theft. The allegations stem from an incident on 9 January, during which they are accused of assaulting a Christchurch woman, Miss Doreen Anne Sykes, blindfolding her, and then transporting her in the boot of her car from Kaikoura to Picton. Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Their defence counsel, Mr P.J.C. Mac Nab, contended that the duo had been incorrectly charged, arguing that the Crown's approach was disproportionate. He asserted that there had been no intent to kill Miss Sykes, suggesting that the appropriate charge should have been one of injuring with intent, as they had initially faced. Regarding the kidnapping claims, he argued that Miss Sykes had willingly accompanied the defendants to some degree. Justices of the Peace O. A. Webb and J. H. Perano remanded the defendants to appear in the Supreme Court in Blenheim on 23 February. Detective B.G. Mickell provided testimony revealing that he had spoken with the defendants. The male defendant, who had altered his appearance significantly—wearing a blouse, slacks, a long blonde wig, and heavy makeup—identified his “camp” name as "Susan." The female defendant indicated that she travelled from Auckland to Christchurch and frequented Wamers Hotel, a locale known for attracting people from the LGBTQ community. According to Detective Mickell, the male defendant stopped the car near Kaikoura and stated that this is where Miss Sykes was going to receive a severe beating. He allegedly struck her with a crowbar and later with a stone, while the female defendant admitted to also hitting Miss Sykes with the stone. The male defendant suggested they would dispose of Miss Sykes’ body by burying her in the sand if she died. The detective noted that there were credible claims about tensions between the male defendant and Miss Sykes, stating the male defendant was not pleased with how well Miss Sykes and the female defendant interacted. Miss Sykes later testified that she and the female defendant had been lovers. During the investigation, exhibits were collected at the scene near Kaikoura, which included a blood-stained rag, a blood-soaked piece of earth, a stone, and a blood-stained sleeping bag, all presented in court as evidence.

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