Man claims he was chained up and abused

Rotorua courthouse. Photo/File

Chained up and used as a punching bag, an intellectually compromised man thought he was going to die.

The 32-year-old made the claim during a video interview played to a jury in the High Court at Rotorua today trying Leneith Moeke, 36, and Gene Karauria, 29, on a raft of charges.

These include kidnapping, assaults with a weapon and intentionally wounding their alleged victim, described as having the mental age and capabilities of a young child.

Questioned about the role Karauria played, the 34-year-old man claimed she hit him at least six times with a tomahawk and whacked him on the arms and back with a steel whitebait pole.

"My arms went numb, everything went blurry, I couldn't stand because I was dizzy, she was calling me a faker."

Another time she hit him with a pole because he mowed a crooked line in the lawn, he said.

He claimed she'd stabbed him at least four times with a pocket knife calling him a 'nark'.

"There was just me and her in the shed, I was chained up, couldn't move because the chain was too short."

He spoke of a rope being tied around his neck before being punched, slapped and kicked because he'd asked to go to the toilet and for food.

"She (Karauria) shoved dried bread in my mouth saying if I wanted to live like a dog I could eat like a dog."

He maintained she forced him to strip, poured cold water over him, tied him up, leaving him without a blanket.

Beginning his testimony late today the man told of meeting Moeke while living on the streets.

"I thought he was a good fella but I was wrong."

Earlier:

An intellectually impaired man has recounted a litany of attacks and assaults on him that included having his arms and feet bound with a dog chain "24/7".

The 32-year-old told a specialist interviewer in a video played to a jury at the High Court at Rotorua today that on other occasions his arms were tethered behind his back by a rope, leaving his arms burned.

Eastern Bay of Plenty couple Leneith Moeke, 36, and Gene Karauria, 29, are being tried on a raft of charges including kidnapping, assaults with a weapon and intentionally wounding the man.

He's been described as having the mental age and capabilities of a young child.

His claims included having his hair pulled out by the roots, being beaten with poles, his back, legs, chest and arms scratched, being stabbed in the arm, having his ribs and nose broken, his eyes gouged and being gagged with socks to stop his yelling for help.

He said he'd been struck on his feet with a spade and tomahawk, and his request to be taken to A&E for stitches were rejected.

He pointed to Moeke as his attacker, saying Karauria had tried to help him by unlocking the chain, but Moeke caught her, ordering her to lock him back up.

At times he'd been tied up in a shed, on others he was tethered to a clothesline.

He claimed he was restricted to one "feed" a day, despite paying $150 a week board and $50 for power.

"I thought that would buy me three meals," he said.

The trial continues.

The alleged victim told another interviewer he was threatened that if he told his family what happened to him they'd be shot.