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Man faces $600,000 arson charges
A man shouted at the judge as he was refused bail after being charged with the burglary and $600,000 arson of three Spreydon properties.
Keri Martin Wakefield, 38, could be heard continuing to yell after he was taken back into the police cells at the Court House after his appearance in the Christchurch District Court today.
Police say the series of arsons caused damage totalling more than $600,000.
They have charged the unemployed man, who lives in Spreydon, with burgling and then setting fire to the three properties near his address.
They were a house in Lyttelton Street, a property owned by the Spreydon Baptist Church, and a medical centre in Barrington Street.
Richard McGuire, appearing for the Public Defender Service, made application for Wakefield?s release on bail to live with his mother, subject to a curfew.
But after considering the police?s written opposition to bail, Judge Jane Farish decided Wakefield would remain in custody to January 8.
He began shouting at that point, as police were taking him out of court, and spoke about needing his medication.
The forensic psychiatric nurse at the court explained that he was not under treatment by local mental health services but if Wakefield explained the situation, the prison would provide the medication that was probably being provided by his general practitioner.
