Child kidnapper changes plea

A 21-year-old man who tried to pick up and carry away a seven-year-old girl from a suburban Wellington street has changed his plea to guilty in Wellington District Court.

Benjamin Mangirane, a Rwandan-born unemployed man, admitted today three charges of committing an indecent act and one charge each of indecent assault on a female under 12, kidnapping and trespass.

He changed his plea after a court-ordered psychiatric assessment found he was fit to stand trial.

The crown summary of facts read before the court said on March 28, Mangirane came up behind a seven-year-old girl who was waiting at a set of suburban traffic lights. He picked her up, put her over his shoulder and tried to carry her away.

The screaming child attracted the attention of other people who came to her aid on the Berhampore street. Mangirane then fled, the Crown said.

In the preceding weeks, Mangirane approached another seven-year-old girl, who was playing in a school playground.

He asked her several questions, before unfastening his trousers. The girl then ran away, fearing she was about to be raped, the police summary of facts read.

The indecency charges related to an incident when Mangirane walked up to a woman on a street, and put his hands into his trousers and began masturbating.

She fled. In the following days, her husband recognised the man and confronted him. Mangirane responded by again putting his hands into his trousers and masturbating, the Crown said.

Mangirane was remanded in custody until August 28 for sentencing.

- NZPA