Branden Moata’ane has lost his sense of taste and smell, hearing in his left ear, and suffers constant severe headaches. But he's thankful to be alive.
Heath James Matehaere, 42, a furniture remover, was remanded in custody until May 19 for a bail hearing. Police said the raids were part of Operation Victoria, an investigation into an incident in the early hours of March 21 when up to 10 people attacked three men, including two brothers, during a night out at Cruz bar and nightclub on Victoria St. One of the men, Branden Moata’ane, 25, faced months of rehabilitation after suffering receiving serious brain damage from the assault and being stomped on the head. Miguel Tuiala Moagutuuli and Marcus Fagaale Moagutuuli, both 28, both appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Friday on various violence charges and for allegedly participating in an organised criminal group. The third man faced various violence and firearms charges and was given interim name suppression. All three men were remanded on bail.
CHRIS SKELTON
Police raid the Snake Fit Boxing Club, the Christchurch headquarters of the King Cobras gang, in relation to a serious assault outside a bar that left a young man with brain damage.
Three men have been arrested following a series of early-morning raids in Christchurch by police investigating an unprovoked assault that left a young father with serious brain damage. Among the properties searched on Friday was the King Cobras gang pad – Snake Fit Boxing Club on Hands Rd, Middleton. Police said the raids were part of Operation Victoria, an investigation into an incident in the early hours of March 21 when up to 10 people attacked three men, including two brothers, during a night out at Cruz bar and nightclub on Victoria St.