Three off-duty police officers facing assault charges after an attack on two students in the lobby of an apartment building appeared in court today.
Constables Chris Renata, 31, Patrick Garty, 32, and Wiremu Bowers-Rakatau, 21, were suspended from duty last month, but returned to work last week carrying out non-normal tasks, after an incident in March.
Renata pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault. He was referred to a different courtroom for another hearing this afternoon.
Garty also pleaded not guilty to three assault charges and will reappear on November 16 for a status hearing.
Bowers-Rakatau entered no plea for a common assault charge and will reappear on October 12.
The three were arrested in relation to an incident in central Auckland involving a group of university students going home after celebrating St Patrick's Day.
One of the students, the son of an Auckland detective, needed stitches to a head wound.
Last year, Renata served in the Solomon Islands where he was stabbed with a machete while on jungle patrol. With his leg gashed, he escaped on a quad bike.
- NZPA
Police face charges over attack on students
Three off-duty police constables are accused of an assault on a pair of Auckland students.
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