Three off-duty police officers facing assault charges after an alleged attack on two students in the lobby of an apartment building appeared in court today.
Constables Chris Renata, 31, Patrick Garty, 32, and Wiremu Bowers-Rakatau, 21, were suspended from duty last month, but returned to restricted duties last week.
Renata pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault. His lawyer Roger Chambers asked for his case to be adjourned until March 3, as Renata had service commitments overseas.
Garty also pleaded not guilty to three assault charges and will reappear on November 16 for a status hearing.
Bowers-Rakatau entered no plea to a common assault charge and will reappear on October 12.
The three were arrested in relation to an incident in central Auckland involving a group of university students going home after celebrating St Patrick's Day in March.
One of the students, the son of an Auckland detective, needed stitches to a head wound.
Last year, Renata served in the Solomon Islands where he was stabbed with a machete while on jungle patrol. He escaped on a quad bike with a gash in his leg.
