Police name man accused of attacking mother

A mentally ill man who attacked his mother in her home near Rotorua biting off a finger and gouging her eyes has been named.

Michael Boddis, aged 41 died from a suspected heart attack in Waikato Hospital's mental health unit on Wednesday, three days after the brutal assault.

His 73-year-old mother is reported to be in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital but doctors fear she could be permanently blinded.

Boddis was charged with assaulting her but was found to be too unstable to appear in court and was taken to Waikato Hospital where he was found dead the next day.

He attacked his mother in their Ngongotaha home on Sunday, gouging her eyes and biting off her right index finger, which has not been found.

He then piled furniture on top of his mother who was found by another son.

Lakes District Health Board, whose mental health unit had been dealing with Boddis, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.

- NZPA