Alleged court axe attacker now on trial

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 20

Alleged court axe attacker now on trial

PA Auckland A Family Court judge prepared to defend himself with his chair as a man attacked three people with a hatchet in the courtroom, jurors were told on Monday. The man struck his estranged wife on the neck with the hatchet then turned to a court clerk who went to her aid, striking him on the back and knocking him to the floor, it was alleged. He then turned to a young lawyer and menaced her with the weapon before fleeing from the courtroom, said the Crown prosecuter, Mr Roy Ladd. He was opening the prosecution case in the High Court at Auckland where Graham Barry Stanton, aged 45, a consulting engineer, of Ellerslie, is on trial. Stanton has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his wife, Ann Eva Stanton, and an alternative charge of wounding her with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Stanton, who is conducting his own defence, also denied assaulting Mr Grant Howlett, a court clerk, and Ms Rosemary Cos, a solicitor, with intent to injure them.

Mr Ladd told the jury that Mrs Stanton had gone to the Family Court on November 20 to obtain nonviolence and non-molesta-tion orders against her husband of 16 months.

During a hearing in the Family Court before Judge Palmer, Stanton took a small axe from his briefcase and attacked his wife, Mr Ladd said.

She fell to the ground and Stanton stooped to strike at her again.

The court clerk ran towards Stanton who turned and swung the hatchet at him.

Mr Ladd said Judge Palmer, who would be called as a witness, stood up intending to use his chair in defence if necessary. The stenographer fled to a neighbouring courtroom and barricaded herself inside, using tables and chairs. Stanton then turned his attention to Miss Cox, the solicitor acting for Mrs Stanton, and menaced her with the weapon.

Mr Ladd said Stanton then left the courtroom, followed by the clerk who called the police. Proceeding).