A man facing charges of kidnapping a Carterton woman real estate agent stood impassively in Masterton District Court dock today during his latest appearance.
Nigel Craig Whakarau, 38, of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Stephen Harrop and was remanded in custody to September 30 on charges related to alleged incidents on August 2 at a private viewing of a home near Longbush including kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary and assault with a weapon.
He was also remanded to the same date on another unrelated charge of shoplifting $809 worth of groceries from Pak N Save, Masterton, on June 28, to which he entered a not guilty plea.
Whakarau, with his head shaved and wearing an oversized winter jacket with a high collar completely zipped shut and worn almost up to his ears, did not speak through the few minutes of his appearance.
He kept his eyes set on the lawyers sitting before the dock and did not once look at the bench, the full public gallery, or Judge Harrop.
Whakarau is charged with confining the woman - or kidnapping - and assaulting her while possessing a knife in circumstances that showed an intention to use it.
He is also charged with robbing the woman of her handbag and contents while possessing an offensive instrument, namely masking tape, as well as the burglary of the house.
