3News NZ
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A 27-year-old man accused of stabbing two people in Christchurch before
he was shot by police is undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
The
man did not appear in Christchurch District Court on Thursday as his
lawyer said he was still too unwell to attend, the Christchurch Court
News website reported.
Judge David Saunders reluctantly continued his name suppression, the website said.
The
original suppression was granted during a special court sitting at
Christchurch Hospital, where he was recovering from gunshot wounds
after being shot twice in the arm by police on March 15.
Psychiatric hospital Hillmorton had asked for his court appearance to be excused because of his medical condition.
His next court date is April 12.
The
man, from Somalia, is charged with attempting to murder a council
worker, injuring Christchurch woman Marlene Robin with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm, kidnapping both Ms Robin and the council worker,
and possessing a knife without lawful excuse.