Rambo refused bail wish
A man with alleged gang connections who was on the run from police for nearly three months made a brash appeal for freedom at his first court appearance since his capture.
Police swooped on a Waitara address last week where Rambo Barton was found. He had been wanted for arrest since June 9 after failing to return to Christchurch
Men’s Prison after his father’s funeral in Te
Kuiti.
Taranaki police appealed for the public’s help in tracking him down. They wanted to speak Barton, who is believed to be a patched member of the Nelson Mongrel Mob, in connection with several alleged offences committed in New Plymouth from June 18 to July 18.
Yesterday, he appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove at New Plymouth District Court.
Barton faces lingering charges from Nelson, Crown charges and new police charges. These include one each of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, participating in organised crime, assaults with intent to injure and common assault.
Barton instructed his lawyer to ask about his chances of being granted bail.
‘‘I’d say zero,’’ Judge Sygrove said. ‘‘But I suppose if you don’t ask you don’t get.’’
On the new charges, Judge Sygrove remanded Barton into custody without plea until September 20. In relation to the Nelson charges, he was remanded until September 19 for trial.