Safe to release?

Radio NZ report:

Authorities want to hold an intellectually disabled man, who has already been detained for more than 10 years after he was caught trespassing, for another three years.

The man’s family, represented by human rights lawyer Tony Ellis, oppose the National Intellectual Disability Care Agency’s bid.

The man – who has autism – arrested in 2006 for trespassing and smashing windows.

At first you might think compulsory detention for that is over the top but …

A clinical psychologist told the court the man posed a high risk of re-offending. He had a pattern of aggressive behaviour including making threats, assaulting staff and breaking windows.

He had violent fantasies that included stabbing and decapitating people.

He said the man has a history of challenging behaviour that includes cutting a student’s neck with a knife when he was a teenager.

In 2006 he broke into his neighbour’s garage with an axe and smashed the windows of a car.

On the other hand doesn’t sound a good outcome for his neighbours!

In court yesterday, the doctor said the man had violent fixations and believed he was on a mission for James Bond.

He had been found drawing violent pictures that included people tied to beds, being stabbed and having their heads and feet cut off.

In the time he has been locked up he has punched and slapped staff and threatened to kill people.

So it seems almost certain he will harm or kill someone, yet they’re trying to get him released!

The doctor said, despite being in compulsory care for over 10 years, the man showed no signs of being rehabilitated.

The doctor confirmed under cross-examination from Mr Ellis that the authorities could improve their standard of care. He confirmed he had spent little more than an hour with the man during his assessment interviews.

The court heard how staff had denied the man daytime naps to punish him for bad behaviour and removed his stationery when he drew violent pictures. Mr Ellis said that was “cruel” as the man’s autism made him a visual person.

Mr Ellis said the institution – which RNZ News cannot name – was punishing the man and not helping to rehabilitate him.

Not everyone can be rehabilitated, sadly.