Two men arrested following a serious assault in Wanaka have had charges against them upgraded to attempted murder.
One of the accused has also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Police say he pretended to be the other's lawyer, in a phone call to police, and had threatened to kill another person if the other man spoke to police.
The men, aged 34 and 39, are charged with attempting to murder Wanaka father of two Kahu Vincent (27) at the Ardmore St Night and Day store about 3.15am on May 9.
Both men's names are suppressed.
Mr Vincent has head injuries and remains in a critical condition in Dunedin Hospital.
The fresh charges follow further investigation by police and forensic scientists and were laid in the Invercargill District Court yesterday morning.
The men have been in custody since their arrest and appeared before Judge Michael Turner via audio visual link from Invercargill Prison.
The man charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice also faces charges of aggravated assault on Mr Vincent and theft of groceries from the Night `N' Day store.
Judge Turner said the perverting the course of justice charge related to the man allegedly telephoning the police and purporting to be his co-accused's lawyer.
Appearing for the Crown, Elliot Higbee said the men each still faced the initial charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The pair did not plead to any of the charges yesterday.
Judge Turner said because of the seriousness of the attempted murder charge he had no option but to remand the men to appear in the High Court at Invercargill on June 9 for a video link with a High Court judge in Christchurch.
The defendant facing the majority of the charges over the Wanaka incident is also facing three unrelated charges dating back to last year, the court heard yesterday - two of assault with intent to injure and one of assault.
Judge Turner remanded him to the Invercargill District Court on June 12 on those matters.
Earlier this week, Judge Turner turned down the men's application for name suppression but their lawyers, Hugo Young and Fiona Guy Kidd, appealed.
Yesterday, the appeals were abandoned and Judge Turner ruled the men should have interim name suppression at least until their High Court appearances.
The man facing fewer charges has applied to be released from prison on electronically monitored bail. Judge Turner said a High Court judge would consider that application.
• The Wanaka community has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support Mr Vincent and his young family.
A Givealittle page set up by a close friend of the family had received more than $20,220 in donations by yesterday afternoon.
About $3000 was raised during an evening busking session at Wanaka's Kai Whakapai cafe and bar last week.
The venue also donated all its profits from the night to the family.
A Lake Hawea golf tournament has been organised for Monday, June 1, Queen's Birthday, to raise further funds for Mr Vincent.
