Alleged gang member denied bail

An alleged gang member accused of being involved in a dinnertime brawl in which a member of the public was hit with nunchucks has been denied bail.

Michael Lindsay Wahanui appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove in the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday, where he entered pleas in relation to the June 28 violence outside The Mayfair restaurant on Devon St West.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to one charge of participating in organised crime, three of injures with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of demands to steal. He has elected a trial by jury.

It is alleged Wahanui, who was one of three patched Mongrel Mob members said to have been involved, smashed a man around the head with nunchucks, a martial arts weapon.

It is alleged the group then set upon members of the public who went to the aid of the victim.

Following the fracas members from the Taranaki Organised Crime Squad, with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Branch and Police Service Technician staff, swooped on a number of gang-related addresses in the city.

Wahanui, a 17-year-old male and a 23-year-old male were subsequently arrested.

At the time, detective acting sergeant Heath Karlson said the attack was not on a rival gang.

He said many families and children witnessed the incident, which was of great concern to the police.

The court heard how Wahanui was based in Fielding and had made the trip to Taranaki to drop off his nephew.

‘‘He was here only for one night and that one night now involves an allegation of him being in town and assaulting people,’’ defence lawyer Paul Keegan said.

Keegan sought bail for his client, who was the primary caregiver for his sick mother.

He proposed Wahanui be bailed to the Fielding address on any curfew the court saw fit, not to return to Taranaki unless for court and to not have contact with any witnesses involved in the case.

Police prosecutor detective sergeant Dave McKenzie opposed the bail.

He said it was a case where the evidence was ‘‘extremely strong’’, as was the likelihood Wahanui would reoffend while on bail.

Sygrove was concerned Wahanui would fail to appear in court if bailed and that he would commit further offending.

He said the victims had serious concerns for their safety and that of their family.

He declined Wahanui’s bail application and remanded him into custody to reappear on August 30.