A man has pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery involving the near-gunpoint taking of a car in Hastings and destruction of the vehicle and damage to several police vehicles in a chase that followed.
Appearing in Napier District Court last week via audio-visual link from prison, Teorihau Kirihi Gillies-Ngaranoa also pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving relating to the events on the night of June 2 last year — the Friday entering Queen's Birthday weekend.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh remanded him in continued custody for sentencing on October 5, Gillies-Ngaranoa saying he was happy to stay in the jail for the outcome also via AVL, without having to be transported to court.
A Crown summary says two people were sitting in a silver-coloured VW Golf parked in Tomoana Rd, near Cornwall Park, about 6.20pm.
Another vehicle parked nearby but soon moved to block the VW. Gillies-Ngaranoa then knocked on the window of the VW and asked for a cigarette lighter, walked away momentarily and returned to demand that the door be opened.