Reasons for mall violence suppressed
The reasons behind a teenager’s threatening and violent behaviour at a Christchurch shopping mall have been suppressed after he pleaded guilty to all charges.
The suppression was imposed when Brandon Browne, who turned 18 yesterday, appeared before Judge Robert Murfitt in the Christchurch District Court today.
The order was requested by defence counsel Glenn Dixon, and was supported by Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh. The media opposed the continuation of the order after the guilty pleas, and argued in court for it to be lifted.
Judge Murfitt continued the order but said it may be re-argued when Browne appears for sentencing on December 12 before Judge Jane Farish.
The reasons for the order being put in place cannot be reported without breaching the order.
Judge Murfitt remanded Browne in custody and asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared along with a report under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act, about how the case should be disposed of.
Browne pleaded guilty to all eight charges after a charge of robbing Michael Hill Jewellers was downgraded to intentional damage. He admitted threatening to kill, assault with a weapon, possession of an offensive weapon, theft, two charges of wilful damage, and disorderly behaviour.
Mr Zarifeh said the incident took place about 2pm on Saturday July 23, at Westfield Mall, Riccarton, when the mall was crowded with shoppers.
Browne went into K Mart and took a metal pole from the shelves. He began swinging the pole around, damaging some kitchen scales, and hitting the security barriers several times.
He kicked over items including a large rubbish bin and hit it with the pole, causing $1310 damage.
Browne began to yell and scream when security staff approached him. “He yelled out that he was going to kill everyone in the mall. The guards believed that he was capable of carrying out this threat due to his demeanour and the weapon he was holding,” Mr Zarifeh said.
He went to Glasson’s shop and hit windows and a display table with the pole. He screamed at a staff member and raised the pole above his head.
He then left the store and struck the side of the escalator. Members of the public on the escalator had to get out of the way.
Security staff managed to take the pole off him but he went into the Michael Hill store where he smashed a glass display cabinet with his fists, causing another $1035 damage.
He was then restrained by security staff until police arrived.
Browne has no previous convictions. Reparation for the theft of the pole and the damage totals $2368.
Category: Focus
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