Three Wanaka teenagers were arrested and charged over the weekend for their alleged part in a group beating of two men outside the Doughbin Bakery in Ardmore St early on October 30.
Wanaka police youth aid officer Constable Phil Vink confirmed last night two 16-year-old males and one 17-year-old male face one charge each of injuring with intent to injure one of the victims.
One of the trio faces an additional charge of assault with intent to injure the second victim.
They were on police bail last night and will appear before the registrar of the youth court division in the Queenstown District Court today, where it is expected they will be placed on court bail and remanded to reappear on November 29.
Const Vink confirmed police had interviewed more than 30 people and identified 12 youth offenders, after initial reports up to 25 teenagers had been involved in an assault on two Englishmen aged in their mid-20s.
The victims received serious facial and head injuries. One was admitted to hospital and has since returned to England. He is receiving specialist treatment for damage to his left eye.
It is understood both victims had been working in Wanaka for at least a year.
Of the remaining nine offenders identified by police, one was from Dunedin and had yet to be located and interviewed.
Eight others were from Wanaka, had been interviewed and would be dealt with through the police youth aid section.
The exact action to be taken against the remaining nine offenders had yet to be determined, Const Vink said.
Police had identified that they had a "lesser role" in the assault and decided not to arrest them.
"The reason for arresting [the three] is we do not want this to continue," he said.
