May 07, 2010

Further psych report ordered over biting incident

A further psychiatric report has been ordered for a 42-year-old man charged with disfiguring a doctor by biting off part of his ear in an incident at a Waltham medical centre on March 25.

Defence counsel Glenn Henderson asked for the further remand under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act when Samasoni Maka?s case was called before Judge Stephen Erber in the Christchurch District Court today.

Maka was again not present for the calling of the case. He remains under mental health care in Hillmorton Hospital, where he has been since his arrest.

Judge Erber excused his appearance and further remanded him to May 21 for the new report.

Police allege Maka bit off part of the doctor?s ear before being detained by members of the public. The doctor has since undergone treatment to have the ear reattached.