KEY POINTS:
Police called after complaints of a boy being assaulted found the teenager with his hands bound and covered in blood, a jury has been told.
A 42-year-old Mid-Canterbury woman, whose name is suppressed, is on trial after pleading not guilty to two charges of assaulting her son.
Outlining the case to the jury of eight women and four men at Timaru District Court yesterday, crown prosecutor Tim Gresson alleged the woman had hit the teenager in the face and helped her husband tie his legs and arms together during a car trip in January last year.
The boy's stepfather had sworn at him and he swore back. When the boy agreed with his mother that he had no respect for his stepfather, she slapped him in the face, causing his nose to bleed.
Mr Gresson told the jury the boy retaliated, punching his mother in the face.
The boy's stepfather stopped the car and punched and kicked the boy as he tried to walk away, he said.
His mother then helped her husband tie the boy's arms together, taping them to his legs before the couple forced the boy back into the car with the intention of taking him to the Geraldine police station, Mr Gresson said.
However, the station was closed.
When the boy spat blood at his stepfather, the car was stopped and the stepfather hit the boy again as he was trying to get away.
Witnesses saw what was happening and called police, the court heard.
Police found the boy with his hands bound and covered in blood.
The boy's stepfather pleaded guilty earlier to assault with intent to injure and two charges of assault.
The trial is expected to wrap up tomorrow.
- NZPA
