Man accused of biting off ear named

Name suppression has been lifted and a psychiatric report ordered for a man charged with biting off a piece of a doctor's ear off at a Christchurch medical centre two weeks ago.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber refused to renew the suppression order when Samasoni Maka's case was before the court for a further remand today.

Maka did not appear in court. He remains under mental health care at Christchurch's Hillmorton Hospital.

Maka, a Samoan-born 42-year-old, is accused of disfiguring the doctor with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police allege he bit off part of the doctor's ear, and the doctor has since undergone treatment at Christchurch Hospital to have it reattached.

It is understood members of the public detained Maka after the incident at the Waltham Medical centre in Ferry Road on March 25.

Police said he was not being treated by the doctor at the time of the incident.

Defence counsel Glenn Henderson asked for the remand to April 23 and handed the judge a letter which supported his application for a psychiatric report under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act.

He also wanted the interim suppression order continued because of the possible impact of publication on Maka and his current state of mental health.

He said he had not been able to get instructions from Maka "because of where he is, and also because of language difficulties".

Judge Erber ordered the report and granted the remand, but revoked the suppression saying no case had been made out for it to be continued.

- NZPA