A man with a life-long disability has admitted taking part in the kidnapping and beating of a 14-year-old boy in the central city.
Eighteen-year-old Hautapu Paikea Toka pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawfully detaining the boy and intentionally injuring him, at a pre-trial session in Christchurch District Court today, Christchurch Court News website reported.
Defence counsel Gerald Lascelles said Toka had suffered from spina bifida since infancy.
His disability meant he would have taken a lesser role in events that took place on the night of the incident in September in Kivers Lane, which runs between City Mall and Lichfield Street.
Mr Lascelles said the incident involved a group of youths who were sleeping rough on the streets.
Police are alleging that the victim was held in a bike cage in the lane and subjected to a prolonged beating which left him with cuts, bruises, and swelling. He was believed to have been knocked unconscious at times.
Mr Lascelles sought bail for Toka because of his medical condition, during the remand to June 11 for sentence.
Bail was granted by Judge Michael Crosbie who asked for a pre-sentence report to cover Toka's suitability for home and community detention.
But he imposed a 24-hour curfew, telling Toka: "It must be met, and kept. If it's not, notwithstanding your medical condition, that will revert to a remand in custody."
Two others charged over the incident have been remanded for a jury trial in May.
