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The sentencing of two men who kidnapped and assaulted a Dutch honeymoon couple camping in the Bay of Islands has been delayed while a judge decides if they should be sentenced in the district or high court.
Crown prosecutors are trying to shift sentencing of the men, which was supposed to occur today, from Kaikohe District Court to the High Court in Whangarei.
Prosecutors want one of the men to receive preventive detention, a sentence which can be imposed by the High Court.
In November Christopher Mana Manuel, 27, and Keith Anthony McEwen, 30, woke the couple, who were sleeping in their campervan at Haruru Falls, telling them to open the doors at 10pm .
T he men, who had posed as policemen, placed a shotgun under the husband's chin as the men demanded money, saying they would rape his wife if he didn't comply.
The tourists were handcuffed and the woman was forced to swallow sedatives, and gagged with tape before McEwen sexually assaulted her.
The couple's money card was used to withdraw cash before they were eventually dumped in a paddock and found their way to a farm house to raise the alarm.
Prosecutors want McEwen to receive preventive detention.
Judge John Macdonald today said he would make a ruling on which court had jurisdiction over sentencing next month.
A Kaikohe court registrar said today the ruling would be delivered on May 9, with a sentencing date to be also determined then.
Both men had pleaded guilty in Kaikohe District Court this year, to the horror attack.
Manuel pleaded guilty to six charges including being a party to sexual violation, and robbery using a shotgun, last month.
McEwen in February pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated robbery, two of kidnapping, five of sexual violation and one each of rape, attempted stupification and using a document.
- NZPA
