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An enraged criminal made moves to come off the dock and attack the sentencing judge while swearing this week.
Lionel James Apanui Tuwairua (38) was jailed for nine months by Judge Michael Turner when he appeared in Dunedin District Court on Tuesday for a violation of a protection order, and immediately exploded.
The warning signs were clear when the judge made his verbal decision.
Tuwairua intervened repeatedly and looked desperately at those in the public gallery as Corrections officers prepared for emotions to explode.
Such was the tension that District Attorney Chris George moved from his desk to place himself between the heavy-bearded defendant and the judge.
When his fate became clear, Tuwairua climbed onto the wooden bench on the dock and held onto the methacrylate barrier.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he yelled at Judge Turner.
Corrections staff grabbed the man before he could jump off the dock.
Appeal it right now. I want a new lawyer, ”Tuwairua said.
“Sue me son of a bitch …”
After Tuwairua was finally dragged to the cells, the judge completed the sentence in his absence, although his furious rant could still be heard from the bowels of the court.
The court heard that a protection order was issued in favor of Tuwairua’s ex-partner in 2013.
On October 1, the defendant began contacting the victim on social media and asking about child care.
She was concerned about Tuwairua’s drug use and messages between the couple show the woman repeatedly asking to be left alone.
The man’s messages began in a seemingly placid manner.
“I’d love to talk to you,” he wrote.
“Beautiful as today.”
But it soon became clear that the victim would resist any attempt to strike up a conversation.
Tuwairua then launched into a series of expletive-laden messages.
A police summary of the events showed that the background photo of the defendant on his Facebook profile was of a pair of firearms.
