Remand for patient

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 3

Remand for patient

Nelson reporter A patient of Ngawhatu psychiatric hospital was remanded in custody for two weeks for a probation officer’s report and sentence, after he pleaded guilty in the District Court at Nelson yesterday, to a charge of assault with intent to obstruct a constable. The man, aged 28, also admitted a charge of burglary of the hospital occupational training unit. Sergeant K. C. Cross told Judge Laing that the occupational unit was burgled between September 26 and 29 and $173 was stolen from a cashbox. The defendant told the police he and a companion had used the money

on a trip to Christchurch. On October 16 the defendant armed himself with two knives and left the hospital. The police were called, and found him nearby. He would not drop the knives when told to, and slashed at the police with them. A police dog was sent in to hold him and took him by the wrist, but he continued to slash at the dog and his handler, Constable Michael Eathorne, until the knife was knocked from his hand by a baton, said Sergeant Cross.

The defendant told the police he wanted to get out of Ngawhatu and would rather go to prison, for at least he would know how long he would have to be there.

He had been committed to the hospital under Section 21 of the Criminal Justice Act. Mrs J. Maze successfully sought continuation of a name suppression order. She said his actions were to draw attention to himself — these were in the nature of a protest — for his persistent pleas to be allowed to live outside the hospital had been ignored. He had no intention of hurting anybody, she said. When the Judge aked if there were secure facilities at the hospital, Mrs Maze said the defendant did not want to be sent back there. He was then remanded in police custody.