Shaw attack accused apologises to NZ
The man accused of assaulting Green Party co-leader James Shaw says “sorry to New Zealand” and that he has no animosity towards Shaw.
The man, 47, appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday. He has been charged with injuring Shaw with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of five years.
He entered no plea and was granted interim name suppression.
Shaw was grabbed and hit in the face as he walked to work in central Wellington just before 8am on Thursday. He told media yesterday the assault had caused a small fracture in a bone in the eye socket. “So no head banging,” he joked. “I feel fine. I have a bit of a sore head.
“A lot of people have these kinds of incidents occur and come off a lot worse than I do,” he told reporters.
Shaw praised a “brave” couple who intervened during the assault outside the entrance to Wellington Botanic Gardens yesterday.
His attacker had driven away after being interrupted.
The accused left the court telling media he attack had nothing to do with Shaw, and that he had simply copped it for a different issue that he would talk more about later.
The man’s lawyer, Marty Robinson, earlier told the court the man had no plea to enter, and applied for interim name suppression because naming the defendant would cause him, his wife and his business severe hardship.
Judge Ian Mill granted the man bail with conditions, including not to carry out any violence or any threats of any violence, and having no contact with Shaw, including via social media. He was also told not to travel to south of Ngauranga Gorge, which would limit any travel to central Wellington.
Judge Mill said he would need to hear arguments to continue name suppression when the man was due to reappear in court on March 29.
The man was supported in court by his wife and family.
Despite the attack, Shaw said he did not believe the one incident dictated an increase in security for MPs.
However he said he had long been concerned about “death threats” and social media abuse fielded by colleagues Golriz Ghahraman and Marama Davidson.
He said he was touched by the messages of support he has had — “I wasn’t anticipating that.”
Earlier he posted a video to his Twitter followers sporting a black eye.
“I’m okay, I’m back at work and I’m very much looking forward to today’s school strike for climate and I hope to see you there,” he said.
He thanked the Wellington Free Ambulance, police and hospital staff for their care following the attack.