Judge convinces man accused of attacking police officer to accept legal help

A Blenheim man wanting release on bail on serious charges including assaulting a police officer refused legal help from the Public Defender Service (PDS) until a judge convinced him to talk to a lawyer.

Richard James Hayden, 44, unemployed, had been remanded in custody at the Blenheim District Court to make a bail application before a Christchurch judge.

He has entered no pleas to charges of assaulting a police officer with intent to injure, assaulting a police officer with intent to obstruct them in the execution of their duty, disorderly behaviour and breach of a public liquor ban.

When Hayden first appeared in Christchurch, duty lawyer Moana Cole asked leave to withdraw from the case because Hayden had decided he wanted to represent himself in court.

Hayden said he had re- fused help from the PDS lawyer because she had no knowledge of the case and could not help him.

Judge Alistair Garland told him that the charges were serious and it would be in his best interests to have legal representation.

Police opposed bail, alleging that Hayden had been intoxicated and had headbutted one of the officers who approached him, causing a nosebleed.

Judge

Garland

granted bail with conditions that Hayden live with his mother in Christchurch, abide by a night-time curfew, report to the police and not consume alcohol or enter licensed premises.

He will also have to submit to breath-screening tests for alcohol as the police require, and he is not allowed to return to Blenheim.

Hayden was remanded to appear in the Christchurch District Court on January 11.