RAINING PUNCHES: The fight took several minutes to break up.
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Crime
A bloody fight akin to a bar-room brawl erupted in the New Plymouth District Court this morning.
After being sentenced to nine years jail for a violent robbery, Michael Hutchinson, 37, turned on Shannon Glen, 20, his smaller co-offender standing in the dock beside him and rained punches on Glen and bit him on the shoulder.
An extended fight ensued as prison officers, police and court security staff all tried to get Hutchinson off Glen.
Once Glen was freed the brawl moved to the ground, continuing for several minutes as Hutchinson continued to fight the pile of enforcement staff on top of him.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Craig Jones was forced to use a series of holds on Hutchinson, who was bleeding from the ear, before he was handcuffed and taken away yelling and laughing.
Judge Allan Roberts cleared the court and postponed sentencing until Monday for a very shaken Glen.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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