Police evacuated nearby homes surrounding a residential Levin property in early August after threats were allegedly made. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The man at the centre of a 30-hour siege with armed police in Levin has thanked prison staff for saving his life in the aftermath.
Paul Kenneth Smith made a brief appearance in the Levin District Court this morning.
The 63-year-old has yet to plead to charges from the stand-off that forced neighbours of his Bledisloe Street property from their homes on 4 and 5 August. Those charges include arson, possessing an offensive weapon and causing harm by posting digital communications.
Paul Smith has thanked prison staff for saving his life in the aftermath of an armed stand-off in Levin. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
With the permission of Judge Chris Sygrove, Smith read a brief statement to the court over his AVL link: "I wish to thank the medical staff from the Whanganui prison, who saved my life, and the Manawatū prison, who was trying to keep me alive.
"My health is now critical. Thank you."
According to a police summary of the alleged offending, released to RNZ, a court bailiff had attempted to serve a possession order on Smith for the Bledisloe Street house.
On 4 August, a judge upheld this.
Smith allegedly told police, and local media, there would be multiple deaths if anyone tried to remove him.
During the stand-off Smith is accused of continuing to make threats, saying if he could not live in the house no-one could.
On 5 August he lit a fire in the lounge and barricaded himself in a bedroom.
"The defendant armed himself with a loaded and charged air rifle and lay on the bed, covering himself in wet towels.
"The pellets loaded by the defendant were spike tipped for the purpose of maximum penetration," the summary said.
Firefighters got the blaze under control and police entered the bedroom by cutting a hole in an external wall. Smith was disarmed by firefighters and police and pulled out of the house.
He suffered smoke inhalation.
The bailiff attempted to serve the possession order two days before the stand-off began, but Smith is accused of threatening to kill him.
After police were called Smith allegedly threatened to make mustard gas.
Smith is also accused of sending harmful digital communications - emails - to the law firm director administering his mother's will.
"The defendant has become fixated on the delusion that his late mother was murdered and [the director], his colleagues and the courts are somehow complicit in the murder," the summary said.
One email listed 32 people Smith said were involved in his mother's murder and threats to them.
Smith will stay in custody until another hearing next month, by which time reports into his mental health should be completed.
About 80 residents were evacuated during the stand-off. It ended on the evening of 5 August when Smith set fire to his house, which is the subject of a civil dispute allegedly behind the siege.
Smith was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
