Support workers in Mosgiel barricaded themselves inside an office while a resident smashed a door to pieces over a dispute about a phone, a court has heard.
Traan Hunter Te Uata Kino (29) appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week following guilty pleas to charges of threatening to kill and committing a threatening act.
The defendant, the court heard, was subject to an interim extended supervision order at the time — a measure imposed for the most high-risk sexual and violent offenders who have been released from prison.
While living at the facility, an argument brewed over Kino’s phone after staff refused to give it to him.
Counsel Alex Bligh explained at sentencing that her client had been desperate to contact his family and children in Auckland.
One support worker tried to speak to Kino as his temper threatened to boil over, but it did no good.
"He stood over the victim so that he was centimetres from his face," a police summary said.
"He postulated his chest outwards and held his hands in fists in an assaultive manner."
After the defendant threatened to kill the man, he fled to the office where other staff had also sought refuge.
"Things went rapidly downhill from there," Judge John Macdonald said.
Kino punched the locked door six times, then followed that up with several kicks.
As he delivered the blows, he reiterated his threats to kill the staff member with whom he had previously argued, the court heard.
Eventually the door was "completely destroyed" and Kino reached through to try to unlock it.
"Fearful for his safety the victim struggled to hold the door shut," court documents said.
It was only when the defendant heard police had been called that he retreated to his bedroom.
Judge Macdonald discounted Kino’s sentence for his mental health issues and noted the man was keen to be transferred north once he had been sentenced.
He was jailed for 18 months.
The determination of the final extended supervision order — which could have Kino under the scrutiny of Probation for up to 10 years — would come in February.
