The man police are hunting in relation to an aggravated robbery in St Kilda last week is the son of one of the women arrested in the matter, it has been revealed.
Desiree Alamaine Cooper appeared in the Dunedin District Court via audio-visual link from Christchurch Women's Prison this morning facing one charge aggravated robbery.
The 38-year-old was granted bail by Judge Kevin Phillips.
The charges relate to an incident in which a replica firearm was presented at a group of teenagers in Victoria Rd on September 16.
Police allege a 15-year-old boy was punched in the head by Cooper's son, Trent Willis, and a replica firearm was held to the head of a 15-year-old girl.
Cooper, Willis and Elaine Aroha Tongia then accompanied the teenagers back to a residential address where the firearm was produced again and cash was handed over, it is alleged.
The dispute stemmed from the sale of a cellphone to Willis.
Tongia (32) was granted bail by police consent by a court registrar this morning and has been bailed to a Christchurch address.
Cooper is subject to strict bail conditions including not taking drugs and alcohol, a daily curfew of 8pm-6am, not associating with her co-offenders, victims or witnesses, and an order preventing her from entering South Dunedin.
“If she is found guilty she will go to prison,'' Judge Phillips warned.
The court heard the whereabouts of Willis remained unknown, and police were concerned that Cooper might collude with her son to help him avoid police.
The firearm had also not yet been located.
The women were arrested by armed police at a Maitland St property later on September 16.
The pair were to reappear in court on October 14.
