A man has appeared in court today charged with firing shots to frighten the father and brother of All Black Beauden Barrett.
The shots were allegedly fired near a vehicle occupied by Kevin Barrett, and Blake, a younger brother of Beauden.
The alleged offence took place in Pungarehu on December 19 at about 10.30 at night.
Appearing in Hawera District Court before Judge Allan Roberts today, 46 year-old Eugene Loui Nuku, of Pungarehu South Taranaki, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge and will reappear on March 1 for a case review hearing.
Nuku claimed in court the pair were in the process of stealing a Christmas tree which was growing outside his house. He alleged the area was fenced and they had a saw to cut it down.