An actor alleged to have engineered his own shooting by
police in July was today remanded on further bail until next
year for a sentence indication hearing.
Rob Mokaraka, 36, faces four charges in connection with an
incident outside his Auckland home in July.
His case was back in Auckland District Court this afternoon,
when he made a brief appearance and was remanded until
February 23 for a hearing expected to take two hours.
A date in January was initially suggested, but defence lawyer
Paul Dacre told the court that Mokaraka faced further surgery
either later this year or early next year, followed by
rehabilitation.
Mokaraka faces four charges: threatening to kill, possession
of an imitation firearm to resist arrest, possession of an
offensive weapon and assault with a weapon.
He has not entered pleas to the charges, which followed a
confrontation in the inner suburb of Pt Chevalier on July 27.
Police say Mokaraka rang 111 to notify them of an armed,
agitated man in the area, and then dressed up as the man.
When officers arrived at the scene, he allegedly advanced on
them carrying a meat cleaver and two knives, before he was
shot once in the chest.
He was taken to hospital, where he underwent a three-hour
operation to remove the bullet.
Last month in a newspaper interview, Mokaraka denied that the
incident resulted from a custody battle over his child or a
perceived lack of work as an actor, but instead blamed his
battle with depression.
In a pre-trial sentence indication hearing, the judge gives a
defendant an indication of the likely sentence if he or she
pleaded guilty at that time.
Early guilty pleas are regarded as meriting a discount when
it comes to sentencing.
