An enraged criminal made moves to climb out of the dock and get at the sentencing judge while spewing expletives this week.
Lionel James Apanui Tuwairua (38) was jailed for nine months by Judge Michael Turner when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday over a breach of a protection order — and he immediately erupted.
The warning signs were clear as the judge made his way through his verbal decision.
Tuwairua repeatedly interjected and looked desperately at those in the public gallery as Corrections officers geared up for emotions to boil over.
Such was the tension that prosecutor Sergeant Chris George moved from his desk to position himself between the burly bearded defendant and the judge.
As his fate became clear, Tuwairua climbed on to the wooden bench in the dock and grabbed the perspex barrier.
“Who the f... do you think you are?” he yelled at Judge Turner.
Corrections staff grabbed the man before he could vault out of the dock.
“Appeal it right now. I want a new lawyer,” Tuwairua said.
“Sue me motherf...”
After Tuwairua was finally dragged away to the cells, the judge completed the sentencing in his absence, though his furious ranting could still be heard coming from the bowels of the courthouse.
The court heard a protection order was issued in favour of Tuwairua’s former partner in 2013.
On October 1, the defendant began contacting the victim on social media and inquiring about child care.
She had concerns about Tuwairua’s drug use and messages between the pair show the woman repeatedly asking to be left alone.
The man’s messages began in a seemingly placid way.
“I’d love to talk to you,” he wrote.
“Beautiful as day today.”
But it soon became clear the victim would resist any attempt to engage in conversation.
Tuwairua then launched into a slew of expletive-laden messages.
A police summary of facts showed the defendant’s background photo on his Facebook profile was of a pair of firearms.
