WELLINGTON - A former police video maker who says his work made him mentally ill did not seem to have difficulties after viewing a crash scene covered in human remains, according to a psychologist.
Dr Ian Miller told Justice McGechan in the High Court at Wellington that he talked to George Brickell several times about what they had both seen at a plane crash site near Wanganui in 1988, and later in a Palmerston North mortuary. Mr Brickell had never said he was having ongoing problems.
Mr Brickell, aged 54, is suing police for about $400,000, claiming he developed post-traumatic stress disorder during the 16 years he worked at the police national video unit at the Porirua police college. He left in August 1997.
Mr Brickell videoed the plane crash site with Dr Miller, then coordinator of police psychological services, for training films on identifying victims and coping with death.
Dr Miller said the scene had been covered with the remains of the nine "poor souls" who were effectively flayed as the plane broke up.
He described the time spent in a mortuary in the "reconciliation phase" as an extraordinary day. He recalled being told Mr Brickell was having problems, but not specifically with that crash.
Mr Brickell seemed excessively interested in horrific crime, he said.
"It was an enthusiasm for the topic, it was an emotion ... It was the way he appeared to enjoy work."
Mr Brickell resisted his managers' attempts to lighten his workload and reduce the time he spent at police scenes. He received counselling at various times but each therapist supplied a certificate saying he needed no further help for the time being.
Referring to evidence that two psychologists had diagnosed Mr Brickell as having post-traumatic stress disorder while he was still with the police, Dr Miller said he was not told that and if he had been told immediate help would have been given.
Lawyer Bernard Banks, making final submissions for the police, said Mr Brickell's greatest stress seemed to come from management changes and staff problems.
Mr Banks said Mr Brickell reported times of greatest stress were during management restrictions, redefinitions of his role, threats to his status from his co-workers and reviews of the video unit.
- NZPA
Police video maker coped well: Doctor
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