Te Arapa Harrison: Albany man bailed again for new charge of throttling during physical altercation

An Albany man on bail on rape charges has been bailed again after allegedly choking a man until he passed out during an altercation in November. Te Arapa Harrison appeared via video link from Albany Regional Prison in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to a charge of impeding another person’s breathing. The 38-year-old was represented by lawyer Ashleigh Antoine who applied for bail for her client, saying Mr Harrison intervened in a physical altercation initiated by a co-accused. Ms Antoine said the co-accused began the physical altercation with the complainant and Mr Harrison intervened when the complainant was “on top of” the co-accused. Ms Antoine said Mr Harrison came up behind the complainant and used a “seatbelt grip” technique to pull him off the co-accused. It is alleged the man passed out as a result. Ms Antoine said the complainant received medical treatment for the injuries to his neck, but argued it would be difficult to prove the injuries were caused by her client as the co-accused had also been charged with impeding another person’s breathing. She argued Mr Harrison faced a “high likelihood of acquittal” at trial, but if he were convicted, imprisonment would not be a “sure thing”. Ms Antoine said witnesses to the alleged offending would be able to corroborate Mr Harrison’s account at trial. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said exceptional reasons had been shown, citing the lengthy time to trial and the nature of the evidence. Mr Harrison was released on bail with a $1000 undertaking, and will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court on October 29.