May 24, 2010

Custody remand on knife-threat charges

A 21-year-old charged with making threats and demanding money from Asian people in the Upper Riccarton area last night has been remanded in custody for a week after a brief appearance in the Christchurch District Court.

Police allege a knife was involved.

Duty solicitor Shannon-Leigh Litt made no application for bail for Brett Allan King, who lives in Upper Riccarton, when she sought the remand to May 31 so that King could get legal advice.

Judge Stephen Erber granted the remand.

King has entered no pleas to four charges of demanding money with menaces from four people with Asian names, as well as robbing an unknown person of a wallet while armed with a knife, and demanding money with menaces from an unknown person.

Police allege there were two unsuccessful attempts to obtain money involved threatening shop attendants with a knife, and a third incident involved threatening three customers with a knife and robbing one of them of his wallet. No-one was hurt in the incidents.