Man accused of attacking judge back in court

File photo / NZ Herald

A Christchurch man accused of attacking a judge in court made a reappearance today.

Muhammad Tanvir, 26, is accused of attacking well-known district court judge Jackie Moran.

Judge Moran was not injured in the alleged attack, which took place in July during a hearing under the Mental Health Act.

It is understood a man lunged at her at the conclusion of the hearing and managed to hit her before being restrained.

Security staff were present at the hearing, but they were not the ministry's own security officers.

At a Christchurch District Court hearing sitting in Rangiora today, Judge Raoul Neave remanded Tanvir at Hillmorton Hospital on bail to October 18 for an updated psychiatric report.

Judge Neave said the psychiatric report before him "raised more questions than it answered."

He indicated that Tanvir was fit to plead and the defence of insanity did not apply.

But it said he met the criteria for having a mental disorder and a disease of the mind, raising questions whether at the time of the incident, he could not tell right from wrong.

Judge Neave asked for the further psychiatric report to clarify his position.

Tanvir, of Middleton, Christchurch, is charged with wilful damage, assault female, common assault.