Defendant Denies Park Attack (Press, 1 October 1982)

On 1 October 1982, in the District Court, evidence was presented regarding an assault on a man in North Hagley Park by three individuals. The defendant, 20-year-old Tini Te Waaka Raymond Te Rangiita, a scrub cutter, has denied charges of robbery in connection with this incident, which occurred on 9 August. He opted for a jury trial and was committed to the High Court after Justices of the Peace, Mr M. B. Hayes and Mrs R. M. Subritzky, deemed there was enough evidence against him. He was remanded until 11 October for further proceedings, with bail set at $1,000, supported by two sureties. The victim, whose identity is suppressed, testified that while driving to a meeting, he parked at the intersection of Armagh Street and Park Terrace. After a brief period in his car, he walked to public toilets near Victoria Lake in the park. He mentioned his past homosexual tendencies and recounted how he followed another man into the toilets, believing they shared similar interests. After a brief encounter in the toilet, they both exited to a secluded area of the golf course, where the victim was attacked by two additional assailants. He was punched, kicked, and robbed of his car keys before losing consciousness. After regaining awareness, he sought assistance and was taken to the hospital, where he remained for three days with multiple injuries, including severe bruising and facial lacerations. During cross-examination, the complainant admitted he entered the toilet with the intention of meeting someone. He denied any accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards the man he followed. A 16-year-old youth, serving a year in a youth prison for unrelated crimes, testified he had conspired with the defendant to rob the complainant after waiting in the trees for their target. In his own defence, Te Rangiita claimed the encounter was initiated by the complainant when he allegedly grabbed him inappropriately. He stated that the subsequent assault on the victim was not premeditated and that the intention to steal the car arose only after the attack occurred. Evidence presented, including fingerprints from the victim's car matching those of the defendant, suggested his involvement. As the case unfolds, both the prosecution, led by Sergeant C. J. Shannahan, and the defence, represented by Mr M. J. Glue, prepare for the impending trial, amid the serious charges faced by the defendant. The complexities of the interactions prior to the assault, the motivations behind them, and the implications of consent and aggression in the case are central themes in the discussion of the events leading to this criminal charge.

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