A Taranaki man will stand trial for the violent kidnap of a taxi driver who was found locked in the boot of his cab in January.
The driver, Tony Brosnan, 49, of Waitara, suffered life-threatening head injuries and is still being treated for loss of memory and of movement down his right side.
Mr Brosnan told New Plymouth District Court that he tried to fight off his attacker but was dragged semi-conscious from the car, used as a punching bag, and then bundled into the boot.
A witness says the accused, Raymond Edwards, 28, dragged Mr Brosnan out in a choker neck-hold, dropped him to the road and twice stomped on his head.
Mr Edwards denies charges of kidnapping, causing grievous bodily harm and aggravated robbery, but the defence conceded there is a case to answer.