Peter George Leach in Wellington District Court today. Picture / Mark Mitchell
Lawyer Noel Sainsbury was attacked in Wellington District Court this morning when he appeared for a man charged in connection with the murder of Tony Stanlake.
Mr Sainsbury had appeared on behalf of 21-year-old butcher Peter George Leach, who was arrested yesterday and charged with accessory after the fact to
murder of Mr Stanlake.
The lawyer had asked the judge for the case be delayed until this afternoon, as a 10am appearance clashed with a High Court case in which he was involved.
Mr Sainsbury had just left the courtroom after the earlier hearing when a man yelled abuse at him, and then lunged at him. Newstalk ZB reported that the man had been sitting in the public gallery.
The man was restrained by security guards and a policeman before being wrestled to the floor and handcuffed.
He was arrested outside of the court and charged with disorderly behaviour.
Mr Sainsbury - brother of television current affairs presenter Mark - remained calm during the fracas.
When the court reconvened this afternoon, lawyer Michael Snape appeared on behalf of Mr Sainsbury. Leach, from the Wellington suburb of Miramar, would not be seeking bail, Mr Snape said, and he was remanded in custody until August 14.
Leach stood in the dock with his head slightly bowed, arms crossed in front of him. He wore a cream short-sleeved shirt, with a blue T-shirt underneath. He was clean-shaven, with short dark spiky hair.
Judge Ian Mill allowed news media to record and photograph Leach inside the court room.
The body of Mr Stanlake, 62, a former firefighter, was found in the sea off Wellington's south coast on July 9.
Mr Stanlake's hands had been cut off and his head partially severed. He had been badly beaten.
Daniel Robert Moore, 21, of Lower Hutt, was charged last week with his murder.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
