Facing charges: (from top) Michael Coulter, Brodie O’Rourke, Jonathan Burke and Charlotte Dickson after Monday’s Queens-town District Court appearance; Rachel Faul is also charged
Further charges may be laid against eight locals allegedly involved in Queenstown’s violent kidnapping case.
Detective sergeant Brian Cameron says the investigation into last month’s kidnapping of Jason Maynard near Arrowtown continues despite five people appearing in court this week.
“Police are still actively pursuing lines of enquiry and evaluating evidence gained over the past few weeks,” Cameron says.
A specialist team of forensic staff from ESR in Christchurch have been examining evidence retrieved from Queenstown properties days after the November 26 attack.
“A determination as to whether further charges are likely will be made once that evaluation is completed,” Cameron adds.
Panelbeater Michael Philip Coulter, 25, builder Brodie O’Rourke, 23, glazier Jonathan Charles Burke, 24, and checkout operator Charlotte Amelia Spencer Dickson, 18, have been jointly charged with the alleged violent assault and kidnapping of Maynard.
It’s alleged a balaclava-clad group carrying a meat cleaver and a machete set upon Maynard and his girlfriend at the Crown Range intersection on State Highway 6, before taking off with Maynard in a car and dumping him near Chartres Green in Arrowtown.
A 17-year-old United States-born Queenstown girl also faces the same charges as the group. She has been granted interim name suppression because of up-coming surgery to treat a virus triggered by stress.
The group’s arrest follows the earlier appearance of local receptionist Rachel Maree Faul, 20. She faces an additional charge of dangerous driving. Faul has been bailed to her parents’ home after earlier being remanded in custody at Christchurch Women’s Prison for two weeks.
Two other men, draughtsman Daniel John Kissel, 28, and glazier Sam Gordon Coupe, 28, were due to appear in court on Monday but were separately remanded.
The entire group will reappear together on February 28 for a post-committal conference. No pleas have been entered yet.
The group has been given strict bail conditions, including curfews of either 9pm or 10pm-7am each day.
Your say
5 - 10yrs for those mullets alone!
16 Dec 2011 01:53PMtrapper
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