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NZ courtroom attacks increasing, Bar Association says
Following an attack on an Auckland-based solicitor by her own client, the country’s Bar Association says these kinds of assaults have been increasing “and they need to be stopped”.
Naomi Neilson
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An Auckland lawyer, who did not wish to be named, told The New Zealand Herald she was allegedly beaten by a client outside a courtroom in the Auckland District Court mid-last week.
She explained she had approached the client and began talking about communication when the client allegedly “started punching me, knocked me to the ground”, and then “stomped” on her.
A forensic nurse and police officer moved the client away.
The Herald reported the lawyer suffered an injury to her finger, and the client was charged with assaults with intent to injure.
New Zealand Bar Association president Maria Dew KC said she was “very concerned” to hear another lawyer had been assaulted.
“This cannot be permitted to continue. Lawyers need to be safe when doing their work and particularly while they are at work,” Dew said.
Co-chair of the Bar Association’s criminal law committee, Rachael Reed KC, said that anecdotally, the attacks are increasing and need to be stopped.
“It will take action and work with others to change this worrying dynamic,” Reed said in a statement.
In June 2024, family lawyer Brintyn Smith was left with extensive injuries after being assaulted in a Whangārei Courthouse lift.
Isaac Aydon, the man responsible, was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.
“Admittedly, I thought he was going to kill me,” Smith said in a video released by the New Zealand Law Society.
“The more I shouted for help, the more that the blows became hard to my head, and I felt it made the situation worse and made it more risky, so I pretended I was dead to try and stop the blows.”
The Bar Association said it had contacted the lawyer, “who has given many years’ service to the justice system”, and offered support.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
