KEY POINTS:
Two 14-year-old boys facing a raft of charges including attempted murder were back before the Youth Court at Tauranga yesterday.
The pair, who allegedly fired shots at police from a stolen car in the Bay of Plenty last month, have been remanded for a pre-depositions hearing on July 30.
One is expected to plead then to three counts of using a firearm against an enforcement officer and one each of aggravated assault, failing to stop for police, recklessly operating a motor vehicle, escaping from custody, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, aggravated burglary and shoplifting.
Youth advocate Tony Balme told Judge Paul Geoghegan that he wanted to negotiate with police over the attempted murder charge.
Advocate Craig Horsley said an attempted murder count against the other teenager would proceed to a hearing. Meanwhile, his client pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault but admitted reckless driving, failing to stop, theft of petrol, burglary and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Charges of using a firearm against an officer and aggravated burglary had been laid under the wrong statute. They were withdrawn and would probably be relaid by police, Mr Horsley said.
The young pair were allegedly at the centre of an early morning drama on June 24, after a car was stolen in Ruatoki, about 120km southeast of Tauranga. It was spotted at Te Puke about 4.20am and chased.
Despite road spikes on State Highway 2 puncturing two of the car's tyres, it continued on to Tauranga.
As it approached Mt Maunganui, shots were fired from a rifle at pursuing police.
Two of four police cars managed to stop the stolen vehicle soon afterwards but unarmed officers were forced to retreat when a rifle was pointed at them.
One of the offenders tried to take a police vehicle but two officers and a police dog apprehended the two teens after a short struggle.
- NZPA
