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A teenager accused of a murder had adopted “gangster ways” in the lead-up to a fatal stabbing, a forensic psychologist told the court today.
The trial of the 14-year-old boy accused following the death of Enere John Junior Taana-McLaren’s continues in the High Court at Dunedin before Justice Robert Osborne.
Te Whatu Ora forensic psychologist Dr Brandon Strange today told the court the defendant was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had adopted “gangster ways” to protect himself.
Strange began seeing the defendant last June at the Te Puna Wai youth justice facility, and continued working with him until his transfer to Dunedin on February 19 this year.
He told the court the defendant experienced significant cultural differences upon arriving in New Zealand and was subjected to bullying and potential racism.
His family reported he had managed well academically until August 21, 2023, when he was allegedly assaulted by school bullies in a park.
After the assault, the defendant became withdrawn and depressed, exhibiting symptoms consistent with a trauma response, Strange said.
The defendant admitted he was deeply concerned for his safety and was determined not to be victimised again.
He believed that by appearing “tough,” he could deter further attacks, Strange said.
Enere Taana-McLaren, 16, was killed following an incident at the Dunedin bus hub last year. Photo / Supplied
Strange said the defendant assimilated elements of “gangster culture” because it provided him with a sense of security and belonging.
“On the surface, his speech, actions, and behaviours could be viewed as oppositional or indicative of a cognitive disorder, but it was more likely immaturity, bravado, and concern about safety. He was doing a lot of impression management, trying to appear tough.”
After a thorough assessment and consultation with his family, the defendant was diagnosed with ADHD.
He and his parents agreed to begin medication, which reportedly improved his attention, focus and impulse control.
Strange described the defendant as a bright young person who had compensated well for his challenges.
He explained that impression management was typical for adolescents in uncomfortable situations, and the defendant was behaving in ways that aligned with how he perceived himself and how he thought others saw him.
“We would understand his behaviour as possibly being driven by anxiety,” Strange said.
At Te Puna Wai, the defendant continued to present with a gangster-like persona, which Strange described as unusual given his home environment.
“We understood it as part of his identity development – kids try out different roles,” he said.
He and his family stated that the August assault had fundamentally changed him, and he avoided confronting problems directly and instead sought safety through learning to fight, Strange said.
He felt he was not protected at school, where his attackers remained, the court heard.
Feeling helpless, he searched for ways to defend himself, eventually watching fight videos on YouTube, weight training, practising boxing on a fridge wrapped in clothing and carrying a knife.
Once he acquired a knife, he felt a reduced sense of vulnerability.
Strange diagnosed the defendant with PTSD in November 2024, primarily linked to the August assault.
However, he confirmed the trauma made the defendant more susceptible to developing PTSD after the alleged fatal stabbing incident last May.
Defendant felt he was a ‘bad person’ after stabbing
Dr Martin Pankhurst, a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, provided a report written on February 9 at the request of the defendant’s counsel.
Pankhurst said the defendant’s parents described the defendant as a sensitive and intelligent child who excelled academically but struggled with sleep problems from infancy.
He told the court the defendant was subjected to racial bullying prior to moving to New Zealand, and did not initially share these experiences with his parents, believing they would overreact.
His parents described him as gravitating toward older peers and being overprotected due to safety concerns.
He also began secretly smoking his grandfather’s cigarettes at age 9.
In March 2023, after moving to New Zealand, the defendant enrolled in Year 8 at a Dunedin college, where he began experiencing bullying from older students.
He reported being targeted with racial slurs, assaulted and having his possessions stolen.
In August 2023, the defendant was attacked by a group of five boys and his parents reported the assault to the police, Pankhurst said.
He said the defendant reported at the end of Term 3 that he had a one-time sexual encounter with the girlfriend of one of the bullies, and did not return to school for a week, fearing retaliation.
Pankhurst told the court the defendant’s mother advised him to “hit back” if attacked again, and that his father noted the defendant became withdrawn, spending more time in his room and being less “laughey [sic] and jokey”.
Pankhurst told the court the defendant showed clear symptoms of PTSD relating to the death of Taana-McLaren and reported recurrent flashbacks, intrusive memories, and nightmares.
He also reported persistent feelings of sadness and shame, and constant thoughts he was a “bad person”.
The defendant told Pankhurst he believed Taana-McLaren paid attention to him because he “looked tough”.
He said the defendant believed Taana-McLaren was escalating the confrontation and that he “had to fight” because he “didn’t want to ‘sack it’.”
The defendant told Pankhurst he went into “fight mode” after Taana-McLaren attempted to kick him in the head, and that he was not thinking when he began swinging the knife.
Police prosecutor Richard Smith questioned Pankhurst on messages the defendant had sent to a friend after an accusation he was vaping in the school bathroom, that talked of committing violence against the person who made the accusation.
Pankhurst said he did not consider this violence, and likened it to “bravado”.
