A promising young league player charged over the brutal bashing of a man in central Wellington has been further remanded while forensic tests are completed.
Ioritana Tuau, 21, allegedly attacked Kapiti man Robert Bryden in central Wellington's Tory St in the early hours of September 15, leaving him unconscious.
Mr Bryden, 25, spent weeks in intensive care before being transferred from Wellington Hospital to a rehabilitation centre at Porirua. He faces a lengthy recovery.
Judge Bruce Davidson today remanded Tuau to reappear on March 1, by which time the results of ESR tests on blood splatters on his shoes should be known.
Tuau played rugby league for the Penrith Panthers in Australia's NRL under 20-competition for two years before joining the Te Aroha Eels in Lower Hutt last year.
