KEY POINTS:
A 43-year-old man arrested for a series of Christchurch arsons and the setting of traps has been remanded to Hillmorton Hospital for two weeks for a psychiatric examination.
John Ngarimu Rattray, unemployed and living at a motor camp, was remanded to May 20 when he appeared before Judge Graeme Noble in Christchurch District Court today.
He entered no pleas to nine charges he faced, and was remanded after Judge Noble received a letter from psychiatric services asking for the report to be prepared under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act.
Rattray is charged with burglary of the St Albans Cricket Club pavilion in Hagley Oval on the night of April 21-22.
He is then charged with more offences on April 26: burglary of the St Albans and Old Boys' Cricket Club pavilions at Hagley Oval, setting two man traps that were likely to injure with reckless disregard for the safety of others, and intentionally damaging the St Albans pavilion by fire.
On April 29, police allege he intentionally damaged by fire the parish church and hall at Sacred Heart Parish, in Spencer Street, and burglary of the church hall.
- NZPA
