Violent Nth Shore rampage trial begins

The trial of four young men accused of a violent rampage on the North Shore last year is underway at the Auckland District Court.


Harlem Haunui Kirton, Piri Valli Kirton, Ruamoko Taiapa and Jono Paul Wilson are accused of aggravated robbery, intent to cause grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent and assault with intent to rob.


The charges are related to events that occurred on the North Shore on January 15 last year when two couples were violently attacked.


Taiapa's mother, Kiriana Taiapa, is also charged with being an accessory after the fact.


In the opening case for the Crown, prosecutor Sarah Mandeno said on the night of the attack, the accused were bored, had no money and were "looking for trouble".


At about 1.30am they came across Denis Khotchenko and Valerie Nesterova who were sitting in Mr Khotchenko's car at Milford Beach.


The Crown says Wilson went up to the car and asked Mr Khotchenko if he had ever met a real gangster. Wilson then asked for a beer as the others surrounded the car.


When Mr Khotchenko tried to start his car he was repeatedly hit in the head and body with a metal bar.


A screaming Ms Nesterova tried to protect Mr Khotchenko with her arms.


She was hit too and blacked out. When she regained consciousness, she ran to get help by running across a carpark and then swimming across an inlet.


About two hours later, Ericka Rancourt and Oskar Carroll were walking along Lake Rd when the four accused allegedly pulled up in their silver Toyota Corolla.


Ms Mandeno told the jury that the couple received serious head injuries and remember little from what happened to them.


"They thought they had been hit by a car and it would have felt like it," Ms Mandeno said.


Ms Rancourt could remember someone standing over her before she blacked out. She also saw Mr Carroll lying unconscious on the ground.


The trial will hear from 50 Crown witnesses and is expected to take four weeks.