File photo. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
An 18-year-old man has been charged with hitting a man in the head with a brick in order to leave the scene of a crime.
The injured homeowner is in a critical but stable condition after the incident in the Wellington suburb of Southgate yesterday morning.
Police said it appeared he was attempting to restrain an intruder on his property.
The 18-year-old appeared in Wellington District Court this morning, supported by his family.
He is charged with the intent to flee after committing burglary, and with taking one vehicle and dishonestly getting into another.
He was remanded on bail under 24-hour curfew to appear again before the court next week.
His name remains suppressed for now.