A lawyer for the man who sparked a police hunt after disappearing with an Auckland teenager for six days says he denies kidnapping or harming her.
A lawyer for the man who sparked a police hunt after disappearing with an Auckland teenager for six days says he denies kidnapping or harming her.
LA Tukerangi, 15, was found in the Eastern Bay of Plenty yesterday with Dean Whakatau. She had sent a text to family members on Saturday saying she had been kidnapped.
Dean Whakatau, centre, denies kidnapping LA Tukerangi, top left and right, who sent a text message, bottom right, to her mother, bottom left, asking for help. Photo: NZ Police / RNZ Kim Baker Wilson
Whakatau, 36, was due to appear in the Whakatane District Court this morning for breaching his release conditions and three charges of burglaries.
However, he's been remanded in custody by consent and will now appear in the Rotorua District Court on 17 August.
His lawyer Craig Tuck said his client was interviewed by police in Rotorua for five hours yesterday and denies any allegations of kidnapping or harming LA.
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