28 Jul 2010

Prison stay extended for elderly assault accused

3:31 pm on 28 July 2010

A man with Parkinson's disease and possible dementia remanded in prison on assault charges has been ordered to stay there for another two weeks while he undergoes a psychiatric assessment.

The man, 69, is accused of indecently assaulting a woman at the rest home where he lived. His name is suppressed.

He is being held at Rimutaka Prison while awaiting the outcome of the psychiatric report.

Lawyer Michael Bott says there is a provision under the Public Health Act which allows the Ministry of Health to take his client into its care and it needs to do the right thing and help him.

Mr Bott says forcing him to stay in prison is a disgrace.

The accused will next appear in the Upper Hutt District Court on 11 August.