Sentencing of a man who in July pleaded guilty to charges relating to a sexual attack on an 87-year-old woman in Hastings has been adjourned with the possibility he could be determined to have been unfit to plead.
The application for adjournment was made in the High Court in Napier yesterday as 30-year-old Hugh Hemi Tuatua Tareha, of Taradale, appeared before Justice Rebecca Ellis.
He was to have been sentenced on two charges of assault with intent to sexually violate the woman, four of unlawful sexual connection, one of injuring with intent to injure, and two of burglary, relating to separate attacks on the woman and another woman, both on November 7, 2013.
One was at the 87-year-old's home in the suburb of Frimley, and the other in the Parkvale area.
The application was made by barrister Eric Forster, newly-appointed to replace previous counsel Russell Fairbrother QC, who advised Justice Ellis he was withdrawing.
Mr Forster sought the adjournment for the hearing of the application, saying there could be evidence on the possible disability of Tareha to give instructions to plead to the charges.
Tareha had initially pleaded not guilty, but admitted the charges in the High Court on July 7.
In remanding him in custody at that time, a judge ordered two psychiatric assessment reports.
Tareha was remanded in continued custody to appear again on October 21.