Man found guilty of aggravated robbery

CHRISTCHURCH: A jury took less than an hour yesterday to conclude that Rory Manuel was the ‘‘man in blue’’ who blasted a man at pointblank range during an armed robbery of a Christchurch tinnie house.

Rory Edward Manuel (35) denied being one of two men who allegedly burst into a house in Bryndwr in the early hours of December 29, 2016 and at gunpoint robbed three people of drugs, cash, alcohol, jewellery, laptops and cellphones, before fleeing in a stolen car.

The issue of identification and whether the Crown could prove Manuel was one of the armed invaders was central to the trial at the Christchurch District Court.

Yesterday afternoon, after the jury unanimously found Manuel, of Shirley, guilty on a charge of aggravated robbery with a firearm causing grievous bodily harm, Judge Jane Farish told them of his criminal history for the first time.

With previous drugs, weapons, and violence convictions, Manuel was ‘‘not someone who is a stranger to violence’’, the judge said.

Two men and a woman were home at the Morley St flat when the raid happened about 2am or 3am, the court heard.

Responding to a knock at the door, a male tenant went to open it, but it was forced open and a gun was pointed in his face, the court heard.

Two men, described of being of Maori or Pacific Island descent, one dressed in blue, one in red, told the men to lie face down.

The woman was told to face the wall, the court heard, and a blanket was put over her head.

The two intruders asked where money, drugs, and other valuables were before searching and ‘‘looting’’ property, Crown prosecutor Sean Mallett said.

They found a suitcase and allegedly began loading it up with laptops, cellphones, jewellery and other property, including bottles of Belvedere Vodka.

The two men had car keys, watches and wallets taken.

One of the occupants was told to walk to the toilet. It was then the gun went off and the victim was shot at close range in the neck and shoulder.

The two intruders then fled. The victim of the shooting underwent surgery and was expected to make a full recovery.

Later that morning, the woman inside the house identified Manuel as the man dressed in blue who was holding the gun.

The second alleged intruder has never been identified.

Judge Farish gave Manuel a firststrike warning and remanded him in custody, to be sentenced on July 25. — RNZ