Paihia Four Square owner Bob Patel faced an agitated man who then took a hostage in his Williams Rd shop last December. Photo / John Stone
Paihia Four Square owner Bob Patel faced an agitated man who then took a hostage in his Williams Rd shop last December. Photo / John Stone
A man with mental health issues sought police help twice before he held a supermarket worker at gunpoint.
Hewe Taupo, 41, has pleaded guilty to two charges of kidnapping, two of assault with a weapon, and another of injuring with intent to injure.
He appeared in the Whangarei District Courtfor sentencing this month but the matter was put off as Judge Greg Davis ordered a psychiatric report with advice on the type and length of sentence to be imposed.
An agitated Taupo held the assistant manager at Paihia Four Square at knifepoint on December 30 last year. A police summary of facts said that, before entering the supermarket, Taupo went to the Paihia police station in an agitated state about 10.30am that day. He asked police for assistance and while he was requested to wait in an interview room, he left through a staff entrance. He then went to the supermarket, grabbed a male worker, forced him up the stairs into an office and requested he and a female staff member to ring Auckland police.
Taupo appeared to calm down after the call but a short time later, confronted the same male worker with a carving knife which he held against his chest and shouted: "If you don't get me help, I'm gonna kill this c***". It isn't clear what help he requested. Taupo also approached the supermarket owner, Bob Patel, with the carving knife before grabbing a female at the checkout and placing the tip of the blade against her neck. Police arrived but Taupo refused to release his hostage who was finally let go after about half an hour. The victim received a number of superficial cuts to her neck. In explanation, Taupo claimed he wanted to make contact with police detectives because he feared for his life.
Taupo's lawyer Chris Muston said his client's state of mind when he went to the police station and the supermarket was bad. His actions were unplanned and the victims were not hurt although they were frightened, he submitted. Crown prosecutor Jarred Scott said Taupo clearly suffered from mental health and alcohol issues. Judge Davis said it was not clear what rehabilitative steps authorities could offer him.
"If I am to send you to jail today, you'll have no support when you come out. The court needs to put in place a pathway so you don't feel you're at the end of your ability to cope with the issues you face," he said. Taupo was remanded in custody until February.
