Bank robberies suspect in court

A man accused of robbing two Christchurch banks this week was remanded in custody for a week in Christchurch District Court today.

Anthony Trevor Grafton, 36, faces two charges of aggravated robbery.

Grafton is accused of robbing the Bank of New Zealand in central Christchurch on Tuesday and the Westpac Bank in suburban New Brighton the following day.

When Grafton was called in court yesterday afternoon, his appearance was excused because he had been beaten up.

Police prosecutor Mark Berryman told Judge Patrick Mahony yesterday that when police located Grafton about 1.30am he had been badly beaten by some of his associates and was in Christchurch Hospital with a broken jaw.

Grafton showed no obvious signs of injury during his brief stay in court this morning.

Standing in the dock for less than a minute, he was remanded in custody until January 27 by Judge Mahony.

He made no plea to the charges.

- NZPA