Police attacker found mentally unfit for trial

A court has found a Northland man who allegedly bit off a Whangarei police officer's lower lip mentally unfit to stand trial.

Reo Rangipohewa Uerata was committed to a psychiatric clinic.

The 29-year-old appeared in the High Court at Whangarei for a hearing on whether he was mentally fit to stand trial.

He is facing charges of aggravated assault on police, driving while disqualified, threatening to kill and wounding with intent.

Police say Uerata became aggressive and bit off an officer's lower lip when stopped at a checkpoint in Kamo in February 2010.

The police constable, with three years' experience on the beat, required surgery at Middlemore Hospital to stitch his lower lip back together.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Justice Tim Brewer made an order under the Crime Prevention and Mentally Impaired Act that Uerata was unfit to stand trial before opening up an enquiry to determine the most appropriate way to deal with him.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Himadri Seth, who assessed Uerata on a number of occasions and prepared a report in July, said he should be assessed at the Mason Clinic, a psychiatric unit in Auckland.

Dr Seth said Uerata suffered from a number of symptoms at the time of his alleged offending and with fluctuation in his condition he posed a risk to himself and to others.

Uerata would do well if he took his medication and stayed away from drugs and alcohol, the doctor said.

Dr Seth said as his court case drew closer, Uerata's mental health started deteriorating.

He said at the Mason Clinic, Uerata would be stabilised and assessed.

Uerata's lawyer Doug Blaikie said his client had a supportive family and that his mother had qualifications in mental health.

His case was last adjourned because he had had difficulty finding a lawyer.

The Attorney General ultimately decides whether alleged offenders who are committed to psychiatrist clinics should answer charges upon their recovery from their illnesses.

- APNZ