Businessman in kidnap trial: 'I was knocked into dreamland'

A businessman at the centre of a kidnap, violence and extortion trial involving Head Hunters gang members gives evidence. File photo

A businessman at the centre of a kidnap, violence and extortion trial involving Head Hunters gang members has been prevented from detailing how a woman came to be injured in a mishap with a sex toy aboard a boat.

The man, whose identity is suppressed, was giving evidence in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday about the incident which the Crown claims was the catalyst for the alleged offending against him and one of his employees when Justice Timothy Brewer told him people didn't need to know all about the incident.

The businessman went on to describe it as a moment of intimacy during which the woman was injured and, after taking her back to shore, received an "absolutely horrific" threatening text.

"There were threats on our life, our person, they were just disgusting, you don't need to elaborate to that extent unless you are some sort of psycho, it was uncalled for in the circumstances," he said.

The man told prosecutor Chris Macklin he didn't know who the texts came from, but had a pretty good idea. He'd left town soon after, referring to the next two to three weeks as a chaotic period; at times he was sleeping on the side of the road or in truck stops.

Sometimes he was on his own and at other times close friends were with him.

He said he learned a group of men were going door to door "like a lynch mob" looking for him and making threats against him.

At one point he fled to Melbourne, before eventually returning to his Lakes house.

He recounted how he'd being asleep on the couch when the front door flew open, and up to eight people burst in with an employee who carried out maintenance work for him in front, being used as a shield.

"There was an arm around his throat, a pistol to his head. I was grabbed in a headlock, punched about the head, I guess they were there with the intention of taking me out.

"I was knocked into dreamland for a bit. I remember seeing a rifle butt moving closer, and, bang, I was out again, that was their welcoming card."

He estimated the attack lasted at least 15 minutes.

At the start of his evidence the man detailed a lengthy list of his assets including properties throughout the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, several boats and luxury cars.

Questioned by Mr Macklin he estimated his net worth was in the seven figure range.

On trial are: Stephen William Daly, 33, Jordan Alexander Christian, 21, David Peter Clark, 36, Benjamin Paul Dwyer, 28, Brent Anthony Gunning, 37, Liam John Kane, 24, Matthew John McDonnell, 45, Stacy Walton Dennis Paora, 29 and Sam Wiremu Rolleston 23.

They've each pleaded not guilty to more than 100 charges including kidnapping, extortion and using firearms against the businessman and his employee. The charges span January and February last year.

The trial is continuing.