Accused inmate shackled in court

The inmate has been charged over incidents in a prison van and at Auckland Prison. File photo / Brett Phibbs

In one of the highest levels of security seen in a court, a prison inmate had his hands shackled together and was surrounded by four guards when he made a brief appearance today.

The man, who cannot be named, faced seven charges, some alleged to have been committed in prison and some in a prison van.

Today in Auckland District Court he entered the dock with his hands shackled together in front of him and was handcuffed to a security guard. In the dock he stood behind armoured plate glass.

The man was charged with attempted kidnap, assault with a weapon and threatening to kill. The three charges arose from an incident in a prison van and he was due to stand trial on those charges in June.

He also faced four other charges of kidnapping, attempting to kidnap, threatening to kill and assault with a weapon. Those four charges were laid after an incident in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo. No trial date had been set for those charges.

A court amicus told Judge Eddie Paul he had yet to view the file and would advise the accused man about legal issues, including the possibility of being tried together on all charges instead of two separate trials.

A court amicus can offer legal advice to an accused person and advice about the case to the court but does not act as a legal representative in a trial or hearing.

From the dock the man asked the judge if he was still representing himself.

"Yes, in effect you are," replied the judge.

The man was remanded in custody to appear again next month.

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