Sue Grey, a Nelson-based lawyer and co-leader of the Outdoors and Freedom Party, was held in custody for five hours today, after a judge removed her from the Nelson District Court for contempt.
At a hearing this afternoon Grey apologised to Judge Tony Zohrab and explained she had been attempting to set herself up as the "McKenzie Friend" of a defendant on another matter.
Kevin McKenney, also known as NgaAngA, was defending himself in a judge-alone trial this morning when the court erupted as a result of Grey’s stance, in what Judge Zohrab described as behaviour that was a "virtual riot".
Grey was supporting the Golden Bay man who was charged with selling alcohol without a proper licence.
McKenney brought multiple supporters with him to court including a dog and a goat.
It’s understood that during the hearing, Grey repeatedly spoke over Judge Zohrab even though she was supporting McKenney from the public gallery.
Judge Zohrab ordered her to be removed from court and she was escorted to the cells by court security, while the public gallery was cleared, a witness said.
Shortly after 3pm, Grey appeared before Zohrab herself. She appeared visibly upset as she was led into the dock by police, but managed a wave to supporters who were packed into the public gallery.
One supporter was singing quietly before another was ejected by the judge part way through the hearing, at which she was asked to apologise to the court for what had occurred earlier.
Grey said she was merely trying to assist the court; Judge Zohrab said she was stood down in custody because of her disruptive behaviour.
The lawyer acting for her, Tony Bamford said she regretted her actions.
Grey then addressed the court directly, at which point she thanked Judge Zohrab and told him she was "acting in the best interests of the administration of justice and the court.
"I had become aware there were some important Bill of Rights matters which needed to be addressed", she told the court.
Grey then apologised to the judge for any offence caused but Judge Zohrab ordered an investigation into her conduct.
Grey is an anti-vaccination campaigner, subscribing to conspiracies surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and the government’s response.
Prior to the pandemic, she was an ardent protestor against 5G technology and the pesticide 1080.
A registered lawyer, last week Grey represented the parents of Baby W in the Auckland High Court as they fought to use unvaccinated blood for their unwell child’s heart surgery. The case was covered internationally.
Grey’s status as a registered lawyer is controversial, with some laying complaints with the Law Society stating her actions in sharing blatant Covid-19 misinformation should disqualify her from the profession.
Complaints against Grey continue to sit with the Law Society, who are investigating.
As well as her legal work, Grey co-leads the Outdoors and Freedom Party. She ran in the Tauranga by-election in June, garnering just under 5 per cent of all votes.
Since then, all major polls this year have placed the party below 0.5 per cent.
Under the Contempt of Court Act, a judge can hold a person in custody for no longer than the end of the day, if they deem the person was responsible for disrupting the court.
The judge must then allow for a hearing on the same day where the matter can be resolved or set down for a later date.
The judge has the statutory authority to sentence the person to a maximum of three months imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or 200 hours of community work.
- Ethan Griffiths, additional reporting Tracy Neal.
