Kidnapping accused dragged from court

The man police say fired several shots during a hostage-taking in Auckland at the weekend was dragged out of court today after he abused the media.

Leonard Archer Hall, 34, told the media to "get it right. F-----g Nazis, Mongrel Mob", after his case was adjourned until next week.

Hall was remanded in custody until June 13 on three charges of kidnapping following a 45-minute drama which ended on Sunday when police forced the car they allege he took at gunpoint off the Northwestern Motorway.

An elderly Chinese couple and their son were highly traumatised by the event. Police alleged Hall ordered them to drive from the St Lukes carpark after he had earlier refused a police order to stop another vehicle he was driving.

Detective Inspector Dave Pearson said the incident severely affected the three hostages.

"They are very very rattled," he said before Hall appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning.

Mr Pearson said police did not know how many additional charges Hall would face but there would be more.

Police were today scouring the route Hall had allegedly ordered the car to drive. Mr Pearson said they were searching for cartridge cases.

It is thought at least six shots were fired at police from a rifle, some of them during the 45 minutes of the chase and some at the St Lukes carpark.

Hall was dragged out of the dock in Auckland District Court and back to the cells after his appearance which lasted less than a minute.

- NZPA