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'John Doe' remanded for psychiatric report
John Doe now has a name ? but it cannot be published.
He has been identified as a 38-year-old northern Christchurch man at his second court appearance, after four days in custody.
He was found inside the central city red zone, in Latimer Square, on Friday and immediately arrested and taken to the Rangiora Court House.
He refused to give police his name and details and his fingerprints gave no clue as to his identity ? he had apparently never been in trouble and did not feature on the police database.
He was charged under the generic name ?John Doe? which is used where identities are unknown.
When he refused to co-operate, Judge Noel Walsh remanded him in custody to appear at the Christchurch District Court session inside the men?s prison today.
In the meantime, he has been identified and his family has been in touch with the police about serious concerns which were described to the court by duty solicitor Colin Eason today.
?There are real issues about his capacity and understanding,? he told the court. ?I have not been able to complete a legal aid application ? he does not want to complete one. I am unable to communicate effectively with him.?
He suggested an in depth examination, and a psychiatric nurse in court said that could be done at the prison?s health unit if the man was remanded in custody.
Judge Raoul Neave remanded him in custody to October 11 for a report under section 38 of the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act to examine his fitness to plead and whether a defence of insanity was available.
Because of the possible psychiatric issues, he granted interim suppression of name until the report is completed for the next court appearance.
