Bail considered in teacher stabbing case

Avondale College student Tae Won Chung stands before the Judge during sentencing at Auckland District Court. Photo / Greg Bowker

The lawyer for a South Korean student jailed for stabbing his teacher said today that a decision on whether to apply for bail ahead of an appeal against the sentence was still being considered.

Tae Won Chung, 17, was sentenced in Auckland District Court yesterday to 18 months in prison.

Chung had earlier admitting injuring Avondale College teacher Dave Warren with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in March.

His case had been due back in court today for a bail hearing, after the defence indicated yesterday that there would be an appeal against the sentence.

However, the bail hearing did not proceed.

Chung's lawyer, David Jones QC, said whether there would be a bail application was still being determined.

He declined to comment on the status of an appeal against conviction, saying: "We didn't have the bail hearing today and that's where it sits."

Mr Warren, who taught Japanese, was stabbed in the back while he was writing on a whiteboard during a lesson.

The court was told yesterday that the incident happened after Mr Warren made a comment about Chung's returning home for compulsory military service.

Mr Warren woke Chung as he dozed in class and warned him that "you'll be dead" if he slept while the North Korean army attacked.

Chung took a knife to school the next day, and stabbed Mr Warren.

Mr Jones told the court that the comments were "culturally insensitive" and "the catalyst for what happened the following day".

He said Chung had been anxious about going into the army and the volatile situation between North and South Korea.

Prosecutor Deb Bell, who had sought a jail term of about six years, said Mr Warren wanted to stress that he was not racist.

If Chung was upset, he could have sought counselling or help, but didn't, she said.

Judge Roderick Joyce said Chung's attack had been "gravely reckless and could have proved lethal".

He didn't accept there was a strong argument for provocation.

Psychiatric assessments revealed Chung had a problem with authority, low tolerance and poor impulse control.

Mr Warren told the court he would forever remember Chung "straddling" over him with a "bloody knife protruding and threatening me with the words 'Don't ever f*** with me'."

He was attending counselling, was on light duties at work and had on-going leg problems.

- NZPA