Miss-Delectable
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Deaf man held as special patient - Local News - Taranaki Daily News
A profoundly deaf Waitara man who king-hit both a prison guard and a man in a pub has been found to have a severe mental disability.
During sentencing in the New Plymouth Court yesterday, Wiremu Albert Raana (23) rolled from one foot to the other as he watched his sign language interpreter explain what was to be his fate.
His lawyer, Barry Henderson, said a psychiatrist had found Raana to be mentally disordered. He asked that Raana continue to be detained as a special patient in Porirua's mental health hospital.
Judge Allan Roberts noted Raana had a "far, far different appearance" from when he was in court previously.
Judge Roberts said Raana had been before him on several occasions when he had sentenced him to prison.
"Today for the first time I have a full picture.
"I am prepared to accept that you have been labouring under an additional disability as well as deafness," the judge said. "You are clearly unwell which may have accounted for your acts of violence in December and January."
Judge Roberts detained Raana under the Mental Health Compulsory Treatment Act for 16 months noting Raana had already made significant progress in hospital.
A profoundly deaf Waitara man who king-hit both a prison guard and a man in a pub has been found to have a severe mental disability.
During sentencing in the New Plymouth Court yesterday, Wiremu Albert Raana (23) rolled from one foot to the other as he watched his sign language interpreter explain what was to be his fate.
His lawyer, Barry Henderson, said a psychiatrist had found Raana to be mentally disordered. He asked that Raana continue to be detained as a special patient in Porirua's mental health hospital.
Judge Allan Roberts noted Raana had a "far, far different appearance" from when he was in court previously.
Judge Roberts said Raana had been before him on several occasions when he had sentenced him to prison.
"Today for the first time I have a full picture.
"I am prepared to accept that you have been labouring under an additional disability as well as deafness," the judge said. "You are clearly unwell which may have accounted for your acts of violence in December and January."
Judge Roberts detained Raana under the Mental Health Compulsory Treatment Act for 16 months noting Raana had already made significant progress in hospital.