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A North Island man who kicked an unconscious German tourist in the head then stole his wallet was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Mathew Shane Armitage, 21, scaffolder, of Mt Maunganui, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips charged with injuring with intent to injure Torben Freitag on December 11 and stealing his wallet.
Mr Freitag, a 24-year-old schoolteacher, was on holiday in Queenstown when he was attacked about 2.45am. Lawyer Russell Checketts entered guilty pleas to the two charges on behalf of his client and guilty pleas to four separate offences.
Armitage also admitted escaping police custody and possession of ecstasy in Mt Maunganui on New Year’s Eve, intentional damage in Tauranga on December 22 and breaching community work on December 18, in Tauranga.
Sergeant Ian Collin said Armitage and an associate – co-accused scaffolder Adam John Ferrari, 23, of Mt Maunganui – were intox-icated when they approached Mr Freitag.
The tourist and a member of the public walked away from the pair, but they followed the German man along Shotover St.
Mr Collin said the accused made changes to their appearance, walked up behind Freitag, and Armitage’s associate punched the tourist in the head, knocking him unconscious. Armitage kicked Mr Freitag in the head three or four times while he lay unconscious, the court was told.
The German man was bruised, suffered abrasions and had to wear a neck brace after the attack.
The defendants continued drinking in Queenstown, using stolen money to pay for alcohol.
Armitage told police he assaulted the victim because he believed Mr Freitag had slapped him in the face, the court was told.
Judge Phillips remanded Armitage in custody until sentencing takes place on March 21.
