Man charged with kidnapping Invercargill woman

An unemployed man charged with kidnapping and assaulting an Invercargill woman faced more charges, including attempted murder, in Invercargill District Court this morning.

Gene Lyndon Pikia, 27, is also charged with aggravated robbery, demanding a wallet with menace and dangerous driving causing injury following an incident on the night of September 13.

A woman was hit by a car as she was walking home along Lindisfarne St in the city about 11pm.

Police have previously said the driver offered to take her to Southland Hospital but instead took her to a rural area near Tiwai Point, about 20km away, and assaulted her.

The woman was found on Tiwai Rd about 3am the next morning.

Pikia was further remanded in custody, without entering a plea, until November 11 for a post committal conference.