A man accidentally shot in the back by police last year has been charged with assaulting a psychiatric worker last week.
Iriheke Pere appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of injuring with intent to injure arising from a March 12 incident at the Hawke's Bay District Health Board's (DHB) psychiatric unit on Omahu Rd, Hastings.
Police did not oppose bail at yesterday's hearing.
Judge Tony Adeane ordered he reside at a Hastings address and told the 34-year-old not to enter any DHB premises or contact the complainant.
Pere is still awaiting a police and Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation after a single gun shot pierced his upper back while he was being arrested and cuffed outside his Hastings home on August 16 last year.
The armed offenders squad was sent to the Karamu Rd house after his family reported concerns about his behaviour. It is alleged Pere pointed a gun at his mother days before the shooting.
The investigation was raised in Parliament last week by Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox, who asked what advice, if any, Justice Minister Amy Adams had received about Pere "given that it is over 18 months since he was shot in the back while he was handcuffed and not resisting arrest?"
Ms Fox told Hawke's Bay Today that Pere's family had approached her in desperation. The slow release of the IPCA report put Mr Pere's chances of having his case heard at risk.
"It's been 18 months and it's far too long. It shouldn't take that long to come to a conclusion about culpability," Ms Fox said.