Agnew's mum calls for calm amid high emotion
Agnew's mum calls for calm amid high emotion - 28 Nov 2007 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news
Emma Agnew's mother Louise Agnew says she wants everyone to conduct themselves with care, despite the level of anguish surrounding her daughter's death.
Mrs Agnew expressed thanks to everyone for their overwhelming support and says the family, together with the Deaf Association, is relieved an arrest has been made so quickly.
However close family friend Sherie Currie says the arrest has not brought closure for friends and family just yet.
She says only when they find out exactly what happened will they really be able to begin moving on.
Earlier today there were angry scenes when 35-year-old Liam Reid appeared in the Christchurch District Court.
He was remanded in custody to a pre-depositions conference on December 20.
The courtroom was packed with members of the deaf community as he made his brief appearance early in the session. Deaf interpreters were signing to the public gallery.
Defence counsel David Bunce asked for the remand and as Judge Gary MacAskill was granting it, trouble broke out.
People who had not been able to fit into the courtroom and were waiting in the foyer began shouting "filthy mongrel" and swearing at Reid.
Court security staff struggled with those trying to get through the door and after a minute managed to push them out and force the door closed. They held it closed.
No arrests were made and the group was bundled out a nearby door onto the front steps.
By then Judge MacAskill had adjourned the court so that matters could settle down, and the courtroom was gradually able to be cleared.
Christchurch District Court manager Chris Alleyne said a court recess was always planned to take place after this morning's hearing to allow the court to be cleared.
"There was some calling out through the open door and that wasn't totally unexpected," Mr Alleyne said.
He said the judge relaxed the rules by allowing people to stand and he also agreed to leave the doors open so those who could not find a seat could see what was happening.
"The court was completely full with members of the deaf community, including the family of the young woman," Mr Alleyne said.
He said it was a small group of three or four people out of the 80 who yelled at the defendant and they were obviously not members of the deaf community.
Mr Alleyne said security staff closed the doors and cleared the court after the hearing so the rest of the day's cases could be heard.
When the court resumed to get on with the rest of the day's work, Judge MacAskill said there had been an "appalling display of lawlessness" in the courtroom.
"People come here expecting to see justice done and respect to all."
He said the court registrar had told him the deaf community had nothing to do with the outburst and he accepted that.
"I am appalled that people treated this courthouse as though it is a sports ground," he said, pointing out that they had directed their shouts "at someone who has not yet been found guilty of anything".
As the prison van carrying Liam James Reid left court, several supporters of the Agnew family yelled abuse, banged their fists on the side of the van and threw small stones at it.
Reid, of no fixed abode, appeared on one charge of murdering Miss Agnew, who was deaf, on November 15.
He made no application to have his name suppressed during the brief appearance and has been remanded in custody to reappear on December 20.
Reid looked straight ahead at the judge during the appearance and showed little emotion.
Judge Gary MacAskill quickly wrapped up the hearing and left the courtroom while police and security guards tried to calm the situation.
Ms Prior said she had yelled out because her 13-year-old son had been at the centre of police inquiries over Miss Agnew's disappearance after he had inquired about buying her car.
The car was found burnt out after her disappearance. Miss Agnew's body was found earlier this week and Reid was arrested yesterday.
Ms Prior said her family had "been through the ringer" after being interviewed by police and having property taken away from their home. Her son had felt like a suspect.
As a mother she also felt the horror that the family of Miss Agnew must be going through, she said.
Outside court, the deaf community also moved to distance itself from those who caused the disruption.
Signing through interpreter Liz Walbran outside the court, Association of New Zealand chief executive Rachel Noble said the uproar was "really disappointing".
"The court hearing was so short. We wanted more information and we were interrupted by the hearing people who were yelling in the court," she said.
"We really wanted respect for Emma. We wanted a quiet time for Emma."
Asked her opinion of Reid, Ms Noble said: "You wouldn't really want to hear my language.
"We could sign it, but not here. I'm sure that everyone here has the same feeling towards him.
"We're hurting, you know. We feel the pain."
Ms Noble said deaf people would be pleased Reid hadn't applied for name suppression.
"We are happy to know who he is. And we're happy to see his face because deaf people are very visual people and we want to see what he looks like so we know who he is."
The accused's quick arrest less than 24 hours after Ms Agnew's body was found allowed some "closure," Ms Noble said.
"A little bit of closure is there, but it doesn't take away our pain."
She said deaf community representatives planned to attend court for Reid's appearances at each stage of the judicial process.
"People will come...not just Christchurch people. People from outside Christchurch will come.
"There's people here from Dunedin, Auckland and Wellington. They will come here to support Emma," Ms Noble said.
The deaf community would now focus on Ms Agnew and her parents and three brothers, who are all also deaf.
"It's really sad that this has happened, but she's given us something and I think we have to take hold of that for the deaf community and for the hearing community to learn something about us," Ms Noble said.
"We all feel that's the gift Emma has given us."
