May 01, 2010

Ashburton bashing, kidnapping admitted

A Canterbury man has admitted his role in a bashing and kidnapping episode in Dunsandel and Ashburton.

Twenty-five-year-old Raymond Richard Keenan pleaded guilty to eight charges at an arraignment before trial, before Judge Brian Callaghan in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.

Judge Callaghan granted bail pending sentence on June 9 in Timaru. He asked for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with an appendix to consider Keenan?s suitability for home detention, and a reparation report.

He also asked for a victim impact report to find out the extent of the injuries to the victim?s mouth and teeth.

Defence counsel Shannon-Leigh Litt sought bail pending sentence on the basis that Keenan had been reasonably compliant with bail conditions during his remand so far.

She said he had arranged to do voluntary work at a soup kitchen during the remand for sentence. He was also helping with work around the property where he was living.

All the charges relate to one male complainant.

Keenan has admitted confining him in Dunsandel and Ashburton on September 27, then assaulting him in Ashburton by pulling his hair and pushing him into a vehicle, demanding $400 with intent to steal it, unlawfully detaining him in Ashburton, and punching and elbowing him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in Ashburton.

Keenan also pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to cause grievous bodily harm, and demanding $400 with menaces at an automatic teller machine in Ashburton.

He also admits unlawfully taking the victim?s car.

All of the offences were committed on the same date.

Alleged co-offenders are due for trial in the Timaru District Court in June.