Stabber had tried before (graphic content)

3News.co.nz

SELF-STABBING: The man is led away to an ambulance.

Authorities knew a man facing prison on child pornography charges had tried to harm himself and he was under surveillance when he was able to smuggle a knife into court and stab himself.

The man had walked past metal detectors at Wellington District Court, which were not turned on, with a knife tucked in his sock.

He was leaving court, with a police officer beside him and just metres from the judge and court staff, when he pulled out the weapon and stabbed himself in the throat.

The man had previously tried to harm himself and was under surveillance in the courtroom, the Justice Ministry confirmed last night.

He stabbed himself moments after being told he would be jailed for six months for viewing child pornography.

The man, who has name suppression, was led, shirtless and bleeding, from the court by police and paramedics and taken to Wellington Hospital, where he went into surgery.

The Government has already announced plans to spend $10 million beefing up security at courtrooms.

A ministry spokesman said the man had been identified as a potential risk and police officers were standing next to him as he was sentenced. "A court security officer recognised the man who was about to be sentenced as someone who had attempted to harm themselves before, in a police cell.

"Two police officers entered the courtroom and stood next to the man."

Police said he was seen bending down in the dock to remove a shoe, which he then put back on. As he was being led from court after his sentencing, he bent down again "as if to tie a shoelace", took the knife from his shoe and stabbed himself in the neck.

Court security staff disarmed him and gave first aid treatment. The man's lawyer, John Miller, credited police with saving his client's life.

The man had been on bail before his sentencing and had not been searched before entering court.

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said the incident could result in the fast-tracking of increased court security measures. "The date for rollout is September in view of today's incident there may be an opportunity to bring that forward."

In May, the Government said it would spend $9m on operations and $800,000 on equipment in the next four years after judges expressed concern about court safety.

DISORDER IN THE COURT

2008: Wade James McLaren, 18, punches Constable Todd Utteridge to the floor in an Invercargill courtroom.

2007: Paul Fa'Aso'O wounds another man by stabbing him in the neck, in foyer of Wellington District Court.

2006: Jacob Matheson jumps out of the dock and punches Judge Geoff Ellis at Nelson District Court.

2005: Lawyer Greg King dealt glancing blow with chair when a man rushes from public gallery of Porirua District Court to attack a murder accused.

1998: John La Roche stabs to death his former partner, Margaret Bennellick, at Palmerston North Family Court.

1990: Dame Augusta Wallace's face slashed with machete while she presides at an Auckland Children's Court hearing.

- © Fairfax NZ News