Man admits kidnap, injuring charges

Stephen Brent Tozer has pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and intentionally injuring a man arising from an incident near Rakaia two years ago.

At depositions in late 2007, the court was told it was a kidnapping and assault by a former lover, at Windwhistle in central Canterbury.

Tozer's depositions hearing in the Christchurch District Court had heavier than usual security in place.

At that stage, 50-year-old Tozer faced nine charges, the Christchurch Court news website reported.

The case went through the system heading for a jury trial, but faced repeated delays.

Tozer had difficulties with legal representation and spoke for himself at several hearings over the past year.

He was told that the trial would go ahead before a jury next week, regardless of whether he had a lawyer.

But the trial process ended today when Tozer came before a pre-trial conference session and pleaded guilty to an amended indictment which had been reduced to just two charges.

These were kidnapping and injuring with intent to injure.

Judge Philip Moran remanded Tozer for sentence on October 30.

Tozer has been free on bail for nearly two years and that continued, pending sentence.

- NZPA