Youth to plead guilty after gang fight

The incident on Koutu Rd left a man seriously injured. Photo / Ben Fraser

A 15-year-old Rotorua boy has indicated he intends to plead guilty after a man was struck by a car and seriously injured during a gang fight in Koutu last month.

The boy appeared in the Rotorua Youth Court today charged with wounding a man with reckless disregard for the safety of others following the incident at a Koutu Rd property on September 30.

His youth advocate, Harry Edward, told Judge Jocelyn Munro that although his client disputed part of the police summary of facts, he did intend to plead guilty to the charge.

Judge Munro told the boy he would have to attend a family group conference where the appropriate jurisdiction and outcome would be discussed, before he made a formal plea. Police told the judge they were happy for the case to remain in the Youth Court, rather than being transferred to the District Court.

The boy was released on bail and will reappear in the Rotorua Youth Court on November 27.

Earlier this month five men, aged 20 to 34, appeared in the Rotorua District Court in relation to the same incident, jointly charged with damaging a utility vehicle and possessing an offensive weapon - either a piece of wood or an iron bar - with the intention of using the weapon to commit an offence involving bodily injury and or threats of violence. A sixth co-accused did not appear as he was in hospital. One of the men was also charged with injuring with intent. They have not entered any pleas.

The men were granted interim name suppression until their next appearance in Rotorua District Court this Friday.