You’re a longtime bully, accused tells judge

A WANAKA man accused a judge of bullying and intimidation yesterday, then invited him out for lunch.

Appearing in the Queenstown District Court on an assault charge, Neville Morgan Mitchell (60) told Judge John BrandtsGiesen to recuse himself because they knew each other.

Mitchell, charged with assault ing Wanaka physiotherapist Brett Jenkins at the township’s medical centre on June 8, became angry when the judge did not recognise him immediately.

‘‘You’re a bully — stop the crap. You had a reputation for being a bully when you were a prefect at St Bede’s [a Christchurch secondary school].’’

He then interrupted the judge when he began to speak, saying, ‘‘Cut the drivel. You cannot hear my case.’’

Mitchell then claimed he would not be appearing in court were it not for a protection order imposed against him by Judge BrandtsGiesen in the Family Court years earlier.

‘‘I’ve been threatened and intimidated by this man for many years.’’

Judge BrandtsGiesen, who confirmed the two had previous legal contact and had attended Christchurch’s St Bede’s College together, recused himself and remanded Mitchell at large until a nominal date of December 20.

As Mitchell left the dock, he invited the judge to have lunch with him some time, ‘‘perhaps at a Chinese restaurant’’.

The judge thanked him for the invitation, but: ‘‘. . . in the circumstances, I don’t think it would be appropriate’’.