A 47-year-old man was remanded on bail when he appeared before a Justice of the Peace in the Kaitaia District Court today charged with wounding and using a firearm, both with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
An interim order suppressing the man's name and occupation was granted, without opposition from the police.
The charges relate to an alleged attempt to steal a front-end loader from a property near Houhora, about 39km north of Kaitaia, on Wednesday night. An 18-year-old man was taken to Kaitaia Hospital where he was treated for pellet wounds and later transferred to Whangarei Hospital for treatment. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
Bail was granted to the defendant on the conditions that he live at a specified address, not contact named witnesses and not possess or use a firearm.
He will next appear before a registrar's sitting of the Kaitaia District Court on May 20.
