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A New Zealand soldier who threatened to kill fellow soldiers before being nearly gunned down by police faces an uncertain future after admitting to numerous charges relating to the incident.
Michael John McEntee, a lance corporal stationed at Burnham Army Camp, was saved from being shot only when his partner stepped into a policeman's line of fire.
A police officer had started to pull the trigger after a tense standoff at Canterbury's Burnham camp when McEntee's partner intervened, and the gun -- later found to be a replica -- was wrested away.
McEntee said later he saw the incident, triggered by an argument with his partner, as "an opportunity to be shot by police".
He almost got his wish, with police saying he was "lucky to be here today" after the incident at a pre-deployment function for East Timor forces in April.
In Christchurch District Court yesterday, McEntee, 33, pleaded guilty to five counts of threatening to kill, five of presenting a weapon, and two of using a weapon to prevent arrest.
Army spokesman Captain Richard Wilson said McEntee was still in the army.
"We will review our retention of this individual pending the outcome of sentencing," he said, but would not comment further.
The judge ordered a psychiatric report and remanded McEntee in custody to reappear on June 13.
- NZPA
