Man admits biting officer's thumb to avoid arrest

A Murupara man has admitted biting the thumb of a police officer in an attempt to avoid being arrested.

Lionel Wayne Taputu, 40, pleaded guilty yesterday in the Rotorua District Court to a charge of wounding Constable Gared McLaughlin by biting his thumb while trying to avoid being arrested on a charge of assault.

The charge resulted from an incident in Rotorua's central city on August 15 last year after a car was stopped by police.

A charge of aggravated assault against Taputu was discharged after Rotorua Crown prosecutor Shane Walshsaid he would not be offering any evidence.

The Daily Post applied to view the police summary of facts but Judge Phillip Cooper said he would not deal with the application yesterday, and the details of the case would be "aired" when Taputu was sentenced.

Judge Cooper granted The Daily Post's application to take a photograph of Taputu in court but only when he appeared for sentencing.

Taputu's lawyer, Harry Edward, asked that Taputu be granted bail pending sentencing since he was the caregiver of a 14-year-old child.

Judge Cooper told Taputu he needed to get his affairs in order as it was likely he would be going to jail.

He remanded Taputu on bail for sentencing on August 21.

- DAILY POST