Brintyn Smith reflects on last year's attack. Photo: Law Society
A lawyer who was brutally beaten in a courthouse lift last year is calling for changes to security protocol, fearing someone else could be injured - or killed.
Family lawyer Brintyn Smith was left with a concussion and PTSD after being attacked by someone involved in a case he was working on, in the Whangārei District Court. He also suffered a fracture to his thyroid cartilage, extensive bruising, and cuts in the assault, which only stopped when he pretended to be dead.
35-year-old Isaac Aydon was sentenced to two years and seven months' imprisonment for the attack.
Brintyn Smith is calling for better support for lawyers representing children, more security cameras in courts - including in lifts - and better information sharing if people have tried to enter courts with weapons.
