Witness denies robbery attempt gone wrong

A trial witness has denied defence allegations that what he described as his kidnapping and night-long bashing was actually his own robbery attempt gone wrong.

After more than a day in the Christchurch District Court witness box, the 33-year-old denied he had tried to rob a man now on trial on 10 charges, and came out worse in the struggle.

His evidence was attacked at length under cross-examination by defence counsel James Rapley, who put the allegations to him on the second day of the trial.

The 30-year-old accused is charged with threatening to kill his victim, kidnapping him, five separate assaults, assault with intent to injure, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He is also charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The accused was granted name suppression at the start of the trial by Judge Michael Crosbie, and the reason for the suppression was also suppressed.

The witness said he had not taken opportunities to flee because he was "too scared - because the guy's a psycho".

He alleged he had been repeatedly beaten and finally stabbed while being intimidated into staying with the man for 19 hours in the incident, in February last year.

At one stage while giving evidence, he became emotional and broke down in tears, telling Mr Rapley: "You want to go hang around with him for a month and see what happens to you".

He said it had been a terrifying event.

When Mr Rapley accused him of making it up, the witness replied: "You are as deluded as he is".

The man on trial has interim name suppression in the four-day hearing before Judge Michael Crosbie and a Christchurch District Court jury.

Prosecutor Sally Carter closed the crown case late afternoon, and defence counsel James Rapley said the accused would give evidence in his own defence and call evidence from witnesses when the trial resumed tomorrow.

The trial may finish on Thursday.

- NZPA