Four teenagers jointly charged with theft from a vehicle and
unlawfully taking a vehicle, in relation to a police pursuit
on Saturday, are due to appear in the youth court at Dunedin
this morning.
It is alleged a 17-year-old was driving a late-model Toyota
Hilux in which there were two 14-year-olds, a 19-year-old and
another 17-year-old.
Police pursued the vehicle, which was allegedly stolen, from
central Dunedin to Taieri Mouth about 2.30am on Saturday,
before it was stopped with spikes and the teenagers arrested.
The 17-year-old driver, both 14-year-olds and the 19-year-old
were jointly charged with unlawfully taking the vehicle.
They were also jointly charged with theft from a separate
vehicle.
The driver was additionally charged with failing to stop and
dangerous driving.
A police youth aid officer said the 17-year-old passenger was
charged solely with unlawfully getting into a vehicle and
would appear in the district court.
It was alleged the 17-year-old driver, 19-year-old and both
14-year-olds stole the car then picked up the other
17-year-old, he said.
Because the 17-year-old driver and 19-year-old were jointly
charged with the 14-year-olds, they would initially appear
before a youth court judge. Once pleas had been entered, the
older defendants would be transferred to the district court.
The process eliminated the possibility of two defended
hearings taking place in different court jurisdictions for
the same charges, the youth aid officer said.
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