One of two men charged over the bashing and robbery of two 21-year-old French tourists in Papamoa last July will defend the allegations at trial in December.
Che Bridger, 25, of Mount Maunganui will defend two charges of aggravated robbery at a jury trial set to begin on December 2.
Police say the tourists were hitch-hiking from Tauranga to Rotorua on July 7 when they were picked up and driven behind the former Shell station near the Welcome Bay turn-off, then beaten and robbed.
Bridger's trial date was set in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
