Machete accused 'reformed bully'

Japhet Simiona is accused of attacking Bruce Mellor with a machete after the senior constable stopped the stolen car he was in. Photo / APN

Five years ago, Japhet Simiona was being hailed as a success story in a school bullying project.

The 18-year-old has now been named as one of two teenagers accused of attacking a lone police officer with a machete and leaving him for dead.

Japhet Joseph Simiona appeared in a Youth Court hearing in Wanganui yesterday charged with the attempted murder of Senior Constable Bruce Mellor.

A 14-year-old boy was jointly charged but has automatic name suppression because of his age.

Both were also charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and arson.

The pair have been accused in connection with the attack on Mr Mellor after he stopped them near Taihape about 6am on December 11.

He pulled over a Mazda that was being driven erratically and was hit repeatedly with a machete as he walked back to his patrol car to check the details of the teenagers.

He had gashes to his head, a broken jaw, multiple skull fractures and a finger on his left hand was nearly cut off.

The 35-year police veteran has been discharged from hospital but will require continuing treatment.

Police say the accused were found a short time later trying to set fire to the stolen Mazda after crashing off the road.

Japhet Simiona first made headlines in a front-page story in the Rotorua Daily Post in July 2005 as a junior high school student.

Then 12 years old, Simiona had taken part in a restorative justice pilot programme to help him deal with his bullying of other children.

He admitted using "standover tactics" to get what he wanted, but had reportedly learned his lesson.

Yesterday, defence lawyers for the two accused opposed media applications to film or photograph Simiona.

Judge Peter Callinicos granted the media applications but suppressed the relationship between the two accused, who did not apply for bail. Both were remanded in custody until January 12.