Escaped mental patient could be a danger

By LOUISA CLEAVE

A mental health patient who escaped from Auckland's Mason Clinic has a violent background and could be dangerous, the police say.

The man, Kenneth Heria, 33, was one of three patients who fled the unit in a major security lapse last Friday. The others have since returned.

However, the psychiatric unit for criminals with a mental illness had no immediate plans to reveal a patient was on the run before the Herald started making inquiries yesterday.

Mason Clinic director Sandy Simpson said there was no "major or severe risk" to the community.


The trio quickly came to the attention of police investigating the death of south Auckland grandmother Maggie Evans.

Ms Evans, 56, was found dead with a long-bladed knife in her neck in Sturges Park, Otahuhu, on Saturday. Police believe she died on Friday night.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said he took an interest in the men when he found they had escaped from the Mason Clinic and were believed to be in Otahuhu.

"I wanted to exclude them from being involved and I believe I've done that."

The two patients with Heria contacted the Mason Clinic on Saturday and said they wanted to return.

Dr Simpson would say nothing about the patients except that they were "well through rehabilitation".

Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said Heria was at the clinic under a compulsory treatment order issued over an incident in 2002.

She said the incident was of a violent nature but was not a homicide.

The clinic had told police Heria would "become a greater risk to himself and possibly others" without his medication.

"That risk would be exacerbated, we understand, if there were alcohol and illegal substances involved," Ms Hegarty said.

Dr Simpson said he was confident of finding Heria with the help of police and mental health services.

"Obviously, the longer he is not on medication and being appropriately supported then the risks of being unwell go up.

"I'm not saying there is no risk or we aren't concerned."

He would not comment on how the patients got away, but there was no suggestion of staff error.

The Ministry of Health is expecting a report on the escape early next week. A spokesman said any decision to alert the public was an operational matter for the Mason Clinic.

The 84-bed unit houses some of the country's most dangerous patients.

Heria, a Cook Islander, is 183cm tall and weighs 120kg. He has the numerals 31 31 31 tattooed across his forehead.

Anyone with information can contact Constable Michael Bridgeman at Avondale police on (09) 820-5700.