Yanfei Bao’s murderer has been kicked out of the courtroom during his sentencing due to his constant yelling and interruption of proceedings.
Tingjun Cao was found guilty of killing the Christchurch real estate agent in December.
He represented himself at trial, after sacking his lawyers.
His performance in court led to regular breaks due to his outbursts and the judge’s need to keep him on track.
Soon after appearing for sentencing at the High Court in Christchurch this morning Cao began calling out from the dock, despite repeated requests from the judge for him to wait his turn to speak.
He leapt to his feet, waving and shouting in Mandarin.
That meant just nine minutes into the hearing Justice Lisa Preston had to close the court to address counsel and Cao’s interpreter.
Following those discussions she decided to take an early break, telling the public gallery: “We’re just going to take a, hopefully about 15 minute adjournment. Again, I regret the inconvenience to people who are interested in this process. It is necessary and we will then return to court and continue the hearing.”
As proceedings recommenced his defence counsel Colin Eason said, “We’ve now established this is a sentencing, not an appeal. I know that Mr Cao will make a request of you at some stage later in the proceedings if he could say some words”.
Justice Preston then told the murderer, “I will not tolerate any further interruption by you during this process at all”.
But as she finally began to progress the hearing, Cao once again stood to his feet and began raising his voice.
As the judge insisted, “No Mr Cao, please be seated”, Corrections staff and interpreters attempted to calm him down.
At that point Justice Preston told the defendant, “I am going to ask you to be removed from the court”.
As he was taken out, an interpreter explained, “He just kept mentioning they are not his lawyer”.
Justice Preston said, “I am going to ask the Corrections officers to ensure that Mr Cao is taken to courtroom 11 and kept in custody in courtroom 11 in your care, where he will be able to hear and I believe view the sentencing hearing but he will not be able to interupt my speaking from that court”.