Behaved ‘strangely’, made death threats
A MAN taken into custody after causing a disturbance on the Southern Motorway one evening in June had acted in ‘‘a peculiar and strange manner’’, Judge Kevin Phillips said, sentencing him in the Dunedin District Court on Friday.
Paul Dennis Excell (39), contractor, of Taieri Beach, had been convicted of one charge of threatening to kill.
He had pleaded guilty.
The fact summary said police were dealing with a person at the side of the road, about 4.30pm on June 12.
Excell approached and was overtly threatening towards the person — someone known to him. Nosetonose, he made several threats to kill the person.
While the person was seated in the back of the police vehicle, Excell bashed forcefully on the rear passenger’s window in an attempt to get into the vehicle.
He used so much force police believed the window could have been smashed.
With police seated in the front of the vehicle, Excell struck the driver’s window — again with force police thought sufficient to break the window.
When police drove off with the person, Excell also drove off.
Stopped by another patrol vehicle on the Southern Motorway soon after, Excell ran to the middle of the road and straddled the median barrier, indicating if they approached he would run in front of a moving truck.
As police approached, he ran across the motorway, scaled a fence and hung over the fence by one arm, stating if they approached he would release his hold and drop the 8m down on to the railway track below.
Police were able to convince him to accompany them to the Dunedin Central police station.
Once there, when it became evident he was going to be charged, it took several officers to restrain him.
He could not be interviewed because of his anger and resistance towards police.
Counsel Andy Belcher said Excell accepted his behaviour had been ‘‘somewhat bizarre’’.
The judge noted Excell had anger issues and had previously been convicted of threatening and intimidating behaviour.
Excell was sentenced to 60 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision.