KEY POINTS:
A lawyer was pushed to the floor when she tried to stop a defendant escaping from Tauranga District Court yesterday.
Brendan Shane Moon had been in the dock yesterday afternoon with a prison officer beside him, police prosecutor Sergeant Roy Blomkamp said today.
Also present were the defendant's lawyer and Crown prosecutor Julie Clair O'Brien.
Without warning, Moon jumped over the dock barrier into the public gallery and ran toward the exit.
In an attempt to block his escape, Ms O'Brien stood in front of the courtroom's closed doors.
Mr Blomkamp said the defendant pushed her backward with such force she slammed into the double doors, her back hitting the door handles, and struck a concrete wall across a small corridor.
Ms O'Brien fell to the ground, whacking the back of her head on the concrete floor.
Moon ran through members of the public toward the main entrance to the courthouse. Realising what was happening, two men grabbed him and there was a violent struggle.
With the help of two prison officers, the defendant was restrained and taken back into custody, Mr Blomkamp said.
Ms O'Brien was "very shaken," suffering a bump to the head and a sore back.
Moon said later that he had seen an opportunity to escape and took it. He had not meant to hurt the woman.
Moon, 18, unemployed, was back in the dock this morning, facing further charges which resulted from his bid for freedom.
Before Judge Callander, a chastened-looking Moon pleaded guilty to an indictable count of assaulting Ms O'Brien with intent to facilitate the flight of himself in the commission of a crime.
He also admitted a less serious charge of escaping lawful custody.
Although he was advised by a duty solicitor not to enter a plea today and to seek legal aid, the defendant was adamant he wanted to plead guilty.
Convicted by Judge Callander, he was remanded in custody until September 26 for sentencing.
- NZPA