Murder accused suffered from paranoia, court told

Antonie Dixon

Antonie Ronnie Dixon has shown extreme paranoia -- the result of a severe personality disorder -- from his early years, crown witness, psychiatrist Dr Rees Tapsell told the High Court today.

Dixon, 36, has denied attempting to murder Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler, murdering James Te Aute, shooting at a police officer, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

The prosecution claim he attacked the two women with a samurai sword at Pipiroa on the Hauraki Plains in January, 2003.

He then fled to Auckland where he shot dead Mr Te Aute, shot at police and took hostages before surrendering.

Dixon's lawyer Barry Hart has said Dixon was not guilty because of insanity but crown prosecutor Simon Moore said Dixon had put on an act to try to convince people he was mad.

Dr Tapsell said he had treated prisoners in maximum security prisons throughout New Zealand and found personality disorders to be very common.

He said the vast majority of inmates, particularly men, had to some extent satisfied the criteria of a personality disorder.

He said although he had not interviewed Dixon or those close to him, he had read and heard evidence about his mental state.

"I would put Mr Dixon into that group of people that I would consider to be seriously personality disordered."

People, who abused methamphetamine, often knew exactly what they were doing and could give a clear account of why they did it, and they knew it was wrong, Dr Tapsell said.

However, they were unable to stop themselves because of the "disinhibiting" factor the drugs created.

Dixon's defence counsel has claimed that the pure methamphetamine he took combined with his mental disorder put him "over the edge".

The trial before Justice Judith Potter continues.

- NZPA