KEY POINTS:
A 34-year-old Auckland man charged after two police officers were stabbed with a screwdriver last night was remanded in custody and granted name suppression for one week in Auckland District Court today.
The Mt Wellington man stood in the dock with a bloodied and bruised face, flanked by two security guards and dressed in a boiler suit.
He was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer, Tumaru Anderson, who was stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver following a police car chase in Mt Wellington yesterday.
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the second officer was stabbed in the chest, but police have been unable to speak with him yet due to the injury.
The accused also faced charges of reckless driving, failing to stop, and driving while disqualified, but more charges would be laid this week.
The man's lawyer, Marie Dyhrberg, asked for one-week's interim name suppression so the accused could contact family.
He was remanded in custody by consent until December 22.
The accused's arm was injured during the incident and he was treated at Auckland Hospital.
Ms Hegarty said an 18-year-old Strategic Traffic Unit officer chased a car which crashed into another vehicle on the corner of Mount Wellington Highway and Aranui Rd about 6.15pm.
The driver then got out of his car and stabbed the officer in the chest.
The officer managed to reach his radio to call for help.
He was picked up by a nearby police helicopter and taken to Auckland Hospital where he remains in a comfortable condition, Ms Hegarty said.
Medical experts believed he was lucky to escape serious injury, she said.
Mr Anderson was stabbed in the leg when he and several other police tried to arrest the driver, she said.
He was treated at the scene and later went to hospital for a tetanus injection.
A screwdriver was found at the scene.
Members of the public helped police to catch the offender as he approached several cars while trying to escape.
Ms Hegarty said police were today interviewing witnesses and waiting to speak with the injured officer.
- NZPA
