A.I.D.S.-scare Prisoner Isolated At Court (Press, 23 September 1986)
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Summary: A.I.D.S.-scare Prisoner Isolated At Court (Press, 23 September 1986)
Tai Te Pania, a 30-year-old beneficiary from Mangere, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for threatening to kill and assaulting another transvestite at a cafe. Following his sentencing at the Auckland District Court, special precautions were implemented due to Te Pania's medical history, which included positive A.I.D.S. antibodies and hepatitis B. Immediately after the sentence was passed, Te Pania exhibited disruptive behaviour, verbally abusing Judge Blackwood. He was quickly escorted to court cells where he was isolated from other inmates for safety reasons. According to Sergeant Gary Whittle, the officer in charge of the court's prison escort squad, Te Pania was handcuffed to prevent any self-harm, particularly as he had a history of self-inflicted wounds that resulted in blood being splattered in past incidents. Sergeant Whittle recounted an earlier encounter where, during a previous court appearance, Te Pania had scratched scabs on his arms, causing another situation where police officers became splattered with blood while trying to control him. This prompted actions such as immunisation for twelve police officers against hepatitis B after a similar incident in July, when Te Pania had slashed his wrists while in holding cells at the Auckland Central Police Station. Earlier in the year, while confined in Mount Eden Prison, Te Pania had threatened guards with glass that was covered in his blood after injuring himself, causing an A.I.D.S. scare among the prison staff. In light of Te Pania's complex medical situation and past behaviour, prison officials, including Superintendent Mr Humphrey Stroud, indicated that the necessary precautions would be assessed and established during the duration of his sentence to ensure the safety of both staff and other inmates.
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