Pair charged after Mafia-style attack

Two men are facing charges connected to an alleged Mafia-style finger chopping in West Auckland.

Terence Austin McFarland, 43, and Michael Robert Brooks, 33, are charged with kidnapping and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They were remanded in custody when they appeared in the Waitakere District court and will appear in court again this month.

It is alleged the men were involved in an incident in which a 22-year-old man had his little finger severed in retaliation for speaking about gang activities. It is believed he witnessed the beating of a man by members of the Headhunters.

The witness was allegedly taken to a flat and told to cut off his own finger, but refused.

It is alleged he was then made to hold a knife across the little finger while a sledgehammer was brought down on the blade.

The victim apparently asked for his severed finger but it was not returned. He later underwent surgery.