Youth accused of child abduction harangued in courtroom

A mother erupted with rage yesterday as she got her first glimpse of the youth charged with abducting and indecently assaulting her 5-year-old daughter.

The woman screamed obscenities at the 18-year-old - who allegedly snatched her daughter as she was walking to school on Thursday - after he was led into the dock at the Tauranga District Court.

"You're going to die," she shouted before being asked to leave the courtroom.

The visibly agitated defendant, dressed in a blue boiler suit, turned to her and yelled that he had done nothing. She said she knew his name and knew people in jail.

"You're going to get it," she said.

The youth repeatedly protested his innocence to community magistrate Kevin Hurley, saying, "Your Honour, I'm not guilty of this crime, I swear by God."

The defendant said he had seen the girl on a road and picked her up to give her a ride.

"I was bringing her straight to the police station," he said.

At this point, a teenage brother of the girl stood up and yelled, "Bro, you're a shitter. That's my sister."

The youth faces one charge of abduction and four of indecent assault after he allegedly drove the girl to an isolated spot in hills east of Welcome Bay, about 15 minutes from her school.

A police officer found her in a car with a youth 45 minutes after her 7-year-old brother, with whom she was walking to Maungatapu School, ran and alerted teachers.

The youth is also charged with a street robbery in Welcome Bay the day before the abduction.

The youth told Mr Hurley his criminal record was "pretty bad" but begged him to grant bail.

"Please, Your Honour, it's Christmas. I don't want to spend Christmas without my family."

The girl's stepfather, by this time the only family member still in the courtroom, said, "A little girl's Christmas has been spoiled too, mate."

Mr Hurley remanded the youth in custody until Tuesday. He ordered name suppression, saying this was necessary to protect the victim as well as the defendant.

The girl was yesterday recovering at home with family. The mother said the girl had been moody and clinging to her most of the day.

She said the 45 minutes her daughter was missing were a nightmare. "I was hysterical," she said. "I felt helpless because I couldn't do anything."

The mother said she was extremely grateful to Sergeant Dave Thompson, who found the girl, and wanted to thank him personally.

The girl and her brother always walked to school together, but she said that would change. "They'll never walk to school again."