Two jailed over kidnapping and assault

File photo / NZ Herald

Queenstown friends Brodie O'Rourke, 24, and Michael Coulter, 25, have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a premeditated group kidnapping last November.

O'Rourke, who instigated the assault and detainment of Jason Maynard, was sentenced three years and six months imprisonment by Judge Kevin Phillips in the Queenstown District Court today, and was to pay reparation of $3000 to his victim.

Judge Phillips did not accept the defence's statement the assault had not been planned by the group, saying there had been "a high degree of premeditation in to the offending".

The group had met at O'Rourke's residence in Frankton to discuss the confrontation and weapons had been taken to the top of the Crown Range near Arrowtown where they assaulted Mr Maynard.

"Open discussions about what had occurred and what was going to be done about it had taken place" Judge Phillips said.

Coulter, who in his pre-sentence report had stated he was a "loyal friend" to O'Rourke, was sentenced to three years prison and was to pay the same reparation as his friend.

The pair, along with six other alleged accomplices, sought Mr Maynard after a drug deal in Queenstown had them left feeling "ripped off".

Mr Maynard was put into a car by the two after being kicked, punched, head-butted and had a meat cleaver held to his throat by Mr O'Rourke.

He was then taken to Arrowtown and dumped on the side of the road.

Some of the men had worn balaclava disguises during the assault and had burned some of the clothes they had worn on returning to Frankton.

Last month Samuel Coupe (28) was sentenced to two years, nine months in prison, Jonathan Burke to two years, three months and Daniel Kissell to eight months' home detention on charges of intending to commit a crime, namely theft by violent means, and wounding Mr Maynard.

This morning's sentencing took an hour and a half in front of a packed Queenstown District court room.