Abduction hearing put off again

A depositions hearing for a youth accused of kidnapping a 5-year-old girl and attempting to abduct two other children was adjourned in Tauranga District Court this morning after confusion over whether it was ready to proceed.

Tony Douglas Robertson, 18, unemployed, recently changed his legal representation, engaging his third defence lawyer on the case since he first appeared in court two months ago.

Sergeant Sean Brennan told Community Magistrate Robyn Paterson that police were seeking another depositions date.

But lawyer Viv Winiata, acting on instructions from Robertson's new counsel, Thomas Sutcliffe, opposed the application.

There was then some dispute between prosecution and defence over who needed more time - the police because their officer in charge of the case had been on leave, or the lawyers because they had not yet received full disclosure and were waiting for new material.

"It quite clearly cannot go ahead today," said the magistrate, remanding Robertson in custody until March 24.

No pleas have been entered on charges relating to the abduction of a little girl on her way to school on December 15.

The accused also faces several counts of indecently assaulting the 5-year-old and attempting to abduct a boy, 7, and a girl, 6, on December 14.

A Tauranga police sergeant found the kidnapped child in a car with a man at a remote reserve about 15 minutes from the Maungatapu school she had been walking to with her brother.

- NZPA