Man admits charges related to body dumping

Jovaan Graham's body was left outside a Matamata hospital. Photo / Supplied

A man has admitted charges linked to an incident in April in which a Rotorua woman's body was dumped at a Matamata hospital.

Thomas McDonald, 30, of Tauranga, appeared before Justice David Collins in the High Court at Rotorua today and pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking a car in Tauranga on April 2 and injuring with intent to injure a Tauranga man at Lower Kaimai on April 3.

Jovaan Graham, 18, was found by security guards outside Pohlen Hospital in Matamata about 4am on April 3. She had recently moved to Tauranga but was at a cousin's house in Rotorua the night before she died.

Police believe she had been hit by a car in the Kaimai Ranges.

The driver of that vehicle was allegedly abducted and assaulted but managed to escape and raise the alarm.

McDonald pleaded not guilty to aggravated robbery of a Toyota Prado and kidnapping the man.

Cheyanne McCausland, 23, of Tauranga, also appeared before Justice Collins in the High Court at Rotorua and pleaded not guilty to four charges: unlawfully taking a car in Tauranga on April 2; injuring with intent to injure a Tauranga man at Lower Kaimai on April 3; aggravated robbery of a Toyota Prado; and kidnapping.

Both McDonald and McCausland were remanded in custody to reappear next month.