The mother of a 16-year-old boy charged with a brutal attack on a 5-year-old girl at a Turangi campground says her family has been hounded from their home.
Her son, whose name is suppressed, yesterday appeared in the Taupo Youth Court and indicated he intended to plead guilty to charges of burglary and sexual violation by rape, as well as a third charge of aggravated wounding that was amended to causing grievous bodily harm.
His mother told the Waikato Times her son was not the monster he had been portrayed as by the media and angry locals had abused her family and thrown things at their home.
Yesterday in court, the teenager asked God to "make me a man, without hate, anger and stress".
He was neatly dressed in a tie and blue shirt and stood quietly beside his lawyer, Katherine Ewen, with his head bowed.
He was supported by a group of family members, including his parents.
Judge Jocelyn Munro told the boy he was looking very smart and said she had read a letter he had written.
She had also been told he had written a karakia, or prayer, and invited his mother to read it out.
His mother read his karakia in both Maori and English; in it the teenager asked God to "make me a man, without hate, anger and stress".
Judge Munro told the teenager that although he had indicated to the court he intended to plead guilty, the plea could not be entered at yesterday's appearance.
This was because a family group conference, scheduled for this weekend, would need to be held first.
Following that, the youth would have to reappear in the Youth Court for the judge to hear submissions from the police and Mrs Ewen.
The boy was remanded to a youth justice facility.
He is due to reappear in the Taupo Youth Court next Wednesday, where he will have the opportunity to plead and there will be a discussion on where he will be sentenced.
The 5-year-old tourist from Belgium was attacked as she slept in a caravan at a Turangi campground on December 21.
She suffered serious injuries, including head and facial injuries, and had to undergo four hours of surgery at Waikato Hospital.
At that time, police described her injuries as "significant and heartwrenching".
The charge of aggravated wounding was withdrawn at yesterday's hearing.
The new charge which replaces it describes her as suffering grievous bodily harm.
The maximum penalty of 14 years in prison remains the same.
The maximum penalties for sexual violation by rape and burglary are 20 years and 10 years' jail respectively.
