Four get jail for pair's kidnap

Four men have been sentenced to up to five years in prison for the kidnapping and aggravated robbery of two women in central Hawkes Bay last year.

Shyan Ngaweketuhimata, Alexander Hamana Witoko and Tuwhare Hoani Mana Puhi were each sentenced to five years in prison on three charges of aggravated robbery, two of kidnapping and one of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, when they appeared Napier District Court yesterday.

The three had been found guilty of the charges after a trial this month.

Bronson Teniti Walker pleaded guilty to the same charges at the beginning of the trial, earning a six-month discount on his sentence.

The court heard the women, from Te Aute, south of Hastings, offered a group of youths a ride to Hastings after their truck had broken down early on December 2 last year.

As they neared Flaxmere, two of the youths produced weapons and held them to the throats of the women sitting in the front seats, demanding they stop the vehicle.

Judge Tony Adeane said from that point on the youths had "simply terrorised" the women, demanding money and driving them around blindfolded in the back of the vehicle.

At one point they drove the women into Flaxmere and demanded a pin number to one of the victims' bank account, before withdrawing $1500 at an ATM.

They also drove back to their disabled truck in Te Aute and attempted to tow it back to Hastings using seatbelts cut from the women's vehicle.

Judge Adeane refused to accept claims by some of the youths' lawyers that their clients were unaware of the robbery plans and were merely bystanders to the events.

He said there had been a "predictable flurry of claims" since the youths were arrested regarding who had initiated the robbery and who was in charge.

Judge Adeane said he was left with "the unbecoming spectacle of individuals attempting to blame each other".

"It is hard to imagine a more terrifying ordeal for two women alone at night."

- NZPA