The Sikh Society is setting up a legal fund to help defend store owners who have been charged with assault, but say they are acting in self-defence.
The fund is being set up initially to support South Auckland liquor store owner Virender Singh, who is facing assault charges after using a hockey stick to ward off teenagers trying to rob his store.
Auckland Sikh Society president Ajit Singh Randhawa says the money will come from Indian retailers and will go to help those like Mr Singh.
Mr Randhawa says store owners are confused around issues of self-defence, because reasonable force is not specifically defined.
However, Crown Solicitor Simon Moore says reasonable force cannot be defined, because it covers a wide range of situations.
