Wellington 'vampire' accused has charge amended

A man involved in a "vampire" attack, whose sentencing was today adjourned in the Wellington District Court until November, has had his charge downgraded.

James Phillip Brooks, 22, displaying a yellow mohawk haircut with shaved sides and accompanied by 11 supporters, has admitted wounding with reckless disregard.

The charge was downgraded from wounding with intent.

Judge Mike Behrens QC adjourned Brooks' sentencing to November 12 to allow the probation service time to approve a place for him to live, in the event he is sentenced to home detention.

Brooks will be sentenced in relation to his part in a night-time attack, in which he and two others are alleged to have bitten a teenager and drunk his blood in the suburb of Mt Victoria on February 20.

Counsel for Brooks, Douglas Ewen, said his client had initially arranged to stay with a friend if he received home detention but that had fallen through.

Crown prosecutor Michael Snape said although the offending was at the "lower end of the charge" it was still serious and the "bizarre aspects" of the case shouldn't mask that.

Judge Behrens noted the pre-sentencing report mentioned Brooks had also been injured the night of the attack.

Mr Ewen said Brooks had been cut on the arm by a car key in a separate incident but it bore no relation to the later attack on the victim.

His client had already been on curfew for three and a half months, which the court should take into account when sentencing.

Xenia Gregoriana Borichevsky, 19, and James Eric Orr, 19, have denied the charge of wounding with intent, over the same incident and a tentative High Court trial date has been set down for next month.

The victim reportedly passed out after the attack and spent days in hospital.

- NZPA