Guilty plea in Christmas cop attack case

A 27-year-old Dargaville man today pleaded guilty to the assault of a police officer - one of two officers injured in a brutal attack during a Christmas Day arrest.

Stewart Anthony Tahere, who has been in custody since his arrest, pleaded guilty today to a charge of escaping lawful custody when he appeared before Judge Harvey Duncan in the Dargaville District Court.

Tahere was one of five people who re-appeared today on a number of charges relating to the assault which left both policeman hospitalised for a short time. He was remanded in custody until April 23 to reappear at Dargaville District Court.

Police withdrew the sole charge of aggravated assault on police against 19-year-old Kiki Uelese, of Wellington.

Alissa Sailo Gooding, 25, and Joshua Terrence Dennis Pilisi-Mohetaue, 28, both from Dargaville, were remanded without plea for a post committal conference on February 28.

Gooding is charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assaulting police with a weapon and damage to police property (a Taser) while Pilisi-Mohetaue is charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

William Campbell-Tahere, 17, had a charge of escaping custody withdrawn, but still faces three other charges.

He entered no plea to two of wilful damage and one of disorderly behaviour.