Girl admits attack on officer

A 14-year-old girl has admitted attacking a police sergeant, kneeing him in the head at least five times.

However, she denies her boyfriend was assaulting her when the officer intervened.

The girl appeared in the Christchurch Youth Court yesterday charged with assault with intent to injure.

The assault broke the officer’s nose and glasses, and left him with lacerations to his face and ear, the court was told..

Her defence lawyer said the girl, whose name is suppressed, ‘‘accepts her actions in terms of her assault on the police officer’’.

Police said the sergeant tried to help the girl at a party in Riccarton Rd, Christchurch, about 10.30pm on Friday.

She responded by kneeing, punching and scratching the officer in the head. Other girls joined in the ‘‘senseless’’ attack until other officers came to their colleague’s aid, police said.

Judge Robert Murfitt remanded the girl on bail with a 7pm to 7am curfew, and ordered her to attend a family group conference next month.

The injured officer, social workers, the girl’s family and a representative from her school would also attend the conference to decide on an outcome.

‘‘That will include some punishment,’’ the judge said.

It would also address her truancy issues, which the girl blamed on a poor relationship with her dean.

The judge said police would make bail checks and she was ‘‘not to offer violence to any other person’’.

The injured officer was treated in Christchurch Hospital and would require nose surgery. He was recovering at home.

Police said alcohol was a ‘‘major factor’’ in the incident.

A 17-year-old youth arrested at the same party was charged with assaulting a female, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.