Man held in custody over safety concerns

File photo / Brett Phibbs

Safety concerns have led to a remand in custody for a psychiatric report on a man who made threats to kill his wife and four sons.

Anthony William Anderson, 44, was arrested after the domestic violence incident in Christchurch on Sunday, April 3, and he pleaded guilty today to charges of assaulting his wife, assault using a weapon (a fence paling), and threatening to kill.

Judge Philip Moran told him: "I am concerned, as no doubt you are, about the potential for you doing harm when you are in this disturbed state that you were obviously in on the date of the offences."

He remanded Anderson in custody for a probation report and a psychiatric assessment and sentencing on April 28.

A forensic psychiatric nurse who attended the District Court sitting at Christchurch Men's Prison asked for the report to examine his "mental health and risk issues".

"I am aware there are some concerns around the risks that he may pose to his wife," she told the judge.

Police prosecutor Anselm Williams told the court Anderson's wife had been asked for her views and told the police that if he was released on bail she planned to leave Christchurch.

He said the incident began in the afternoon when Anderson was drinking and made threats to kill himself. He threw a bottle at his wife when she approached him outside the house.

When she again approached him in the house, he pushed her over.

He also swung a fence paling at her, causing a graze to her wrist.

She continued trying to talk to him, but he said: "Leave. I don't know what I am capable of doing."

He spent some time at the Psychiatric Emergency Unit but left before being assessed. He made a threat to kill his wife and four sons.

The court was told Anderson now wanted to be released on bail to return to work and provide for his family which was suffering financial hardship while he was in prison. He is self employed.

"It is not what he did, so much as the potential for serious harm that troubles me," said Judge Moran.

- NZPA