4 Mar 2009

Student due in court after stabbing of teacher

8:13 am on 4 March 2009

A Korean student will appear in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday charged with stabbing his teacher.

David Warren, 49, was stabbed in the back while writing on a whiteboard during a Japanese language class on Tuesday morning at Avondale College.

The student, 17, faces a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The incident was witnessed by 20 or so students who have been given counselling.

Mr Warren spent the afternoon in hospital before being allowed home in the evening.

College principal Brent Lewis says security will be reviewed after the students who witnessed the attack have been looked after.

Previous incident at college

It is not the first time Avondale College has been linked with a stabbing.

In October 2006, Manaola Kaumeafaiva, 14, was stabbed to death at a church dance outside the school.

Petani Fa'avae was convicted of murder at the age of 17, with police calling the incident a random act of fatal violence.