Court appearance in road rage case

Barry Fletcher, in hospital last night. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The man charged with attacking an Auckland truck driver in an apparent road rage incident has appeared in court.

The 35-year-old Mangere man has been granted interim name suppression and released on bail to reappear in court later this month.

The man's lawyer argued that his client's identity should be kept secret, as he has the same surname as a well-known sports personality.

Judge David Harvey rejected the argument, saying there has already been enormous media coverage of the incident. The defence will lodge an appeal of that decision this afternoon.

Police allege truck driver Barry Fletcher was the victim of an attack in a client's driveway on Savill Drive, Mangere on Tuesday. The vicious attack was captured clearly on security footage.

Mr Fletcher was in a stable condition last night in Middlemore Hospital, with multiple fractures to his right ankle and left wrist and gashes to the bone on his lower right leg. His right arm is spotted with bruises.

- NEWSTALK ZB and NZ HERALD