The Bay of Plenty pair accused of bashing and abducting a 32-year-old Tauranga man before stealing his car in the Kaimai Range have been back in court and remain behind bars.
Thomas Kevin McDonald, 30, and Cheyanne McCausland, 23, both from Tauranga, faced joint charges of kidnapping, injuring with intent to injure, aggravated robbery and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle when they appeared in Tauranga District Court today.
Police allege the pair kidnapped and assaulted the owner of a silver Toyota Prado who had been driving in the Kaimai Range about 3am on April 3, struck a person on the roadside, and got out of his vehicle to investigate.
The alleged offences are linked to the death of Tauranga teen Jovaan Graham whose body was found outside Matamata Hospital by security staff about an hour later.
Judge Paul Geoghegan further remanded the pair in custody without pleas. Both defendants are due back in court on June 18 for a judicial intervention hearing.
