Police beat 'finger biting' suspect, says lawyer

A man who allegedly bit off part of a policeman's finger claims he was beaten by officers during his arrest.

Jeremy Matua McLeod, a 28-year-old plasterer from Whangarei, appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday on two charges of common assault.

He had a bandage on his head and wore hospital-issue pyjamas.

His lawyer said outside the court that McLeod had been "belted" in the back of the head with a torch and needed stitches to a wound.

Police said force was used in the arrest but they had not received any complaint from him or his lawyer about his treatment.

McLeod denies assaulting police officers Jason Hong Goo and Brent English in Howe St, Auckland, early on Sunday.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody for two weeks.

Auckland police say they cannot identify which officer lost part of his right ring finger.

Doctors were unable to re-attach the flesh but the officer is likely to undergo skin grafts. He was expected to be off work for weeks.

McLeod's lawyer, Nigel Cooke, said as well as the injury to the back of his head, his client's face was bruised and a finger injured.

"His knees are buggered," said Mr Cooke. "They dealt to him.

"He took them on and so that's how the cops deal with it."

Mr Cooke would not comment on whether his client was injured before or after the officer was bitten.

A resident, Thea Edwards, told the Herald she heard a man screaming for help but could not see who it was from her apartment window.

A police spokeswoman said that, as required by law, the Police Complaints Authority had been notified of the incident and the use of force.

In applying for bail, Mr Cooke said McLeod had a "very sound defence" but he would not go into details.

"He admits to some extent he was wrong but on the ultimate issues he says he is not guilty."

The court was told drugs and alcohol were not factors in the alleged assault.