Members of the public fled from a Nelson courtroom as an agitated man appearing on violence charges fled from the dock and started running towards them.
Three policemen struggled to hold back unemployed local man James Rameka Kumeroa, 30, from escaping from the room during Tuesday afternoon's district court session.
In the moments before he made his run, Kumeroa was restless in the dock, The Nelson Mail reported.
He was appearing on a list of charges including robbery on September 18, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a policeman, wilful damage, injuring with intent to injure and two charges of assaulting a female. When Judge Tony Zohrab ordered a mental assessment report, Kumeroa yelled out, "I didn't do anything", before getting aggressive and resisting the two constables who tried to escort him out of the dock.
Judge Zohrab abruptly left the room and about 12 people ran out through the courtroom doors as Kumeroa escaped the dock and headed towards them. He was eventually wrestled to the floor by police and seven officers were called in to help. Kumeroa lay on the ground shrieking and yelling before being taken away. The public were then allowed back into the courtroom.
Defence counsel Tony Bamford said Kumeroa had been seen by a psychologist that morning and did not understand what he was being charged with. Considering "recent events", it was premature to apply for bail, he said.
