Teenager jailed for riverside extortion

A teenager has been sentenced to three years' jail for his part in an attempt to extort money from a near-comatose man.

The victim, Japanese student Yasuaki Shishikura, 23, was later found dead in the Heathcote River, Christchurch.

Joshua Brian Kevin Exeter, 17, admitted charges of blackmail, unlawfully using a document, unlawfully getting into a car, burglary and theft.

Justice John Hansen told the High Court at Christchurch yesterday it was accepted none of the group was involved in the death, but the Crown had noted all were well aware of the victim's vulnerability.

"I have no doubt this was a joint enterprise, and while you were not the ringleader you played a significant part," the judge told Exeter.

Exeter and three associates, after heavy alcohol and cannabis use on September 25, came across Mr Shishikura lying intoxicated, almost comatose, in the suburb of Woolston.

Two of Exeter's group moved the victim to the nearby riverbank. Exeter found a backpack, from which he took a wallet.

A bankcard was taken, but attempts to get money from an automatic teller machine without the personal identification number failed. The victim was then threatened with an air pistol, a slingshot was fired at him and he revealed some numbers.

Exeter stole Mr Shishikura's watch, which he later sold, but further attempts to get money using the card were unsuccessful.

Mr Shishikura was found dead in the river the next day. It was accepted none of the group played any part in the death.

The judge said aggravating features included the use of violence and weapons, and that Exeter was on bail at the time of the blackmail incident.

- NZPA