Constable contracted Covid after being spat on during arrest of abusive woman

A Timaru woman who spat in a constable’s face during her arrest tested positive for Covid-19 the next day with the officer testing positive two days later.

Shiana Kereama’s actions were described as overdoing it “in spectacular fashion” by her lawyer Paul Norcross when she appeared before Judge Jim Large in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.

“Getting involved in a fracas involving her partner was a silly move,” Norcross said.

“She had no right to be involved.”

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Kereama, who pleaded guilty and was convicted on May 31, was to have been sentenced on Tuesday, but Judge Large deferred the sentencing to September 15, saying he wanted an updated Victim Impact Statement and pre-sentence report.

“There may be other issues here that need to be addressed,” Judge Large said.

“This is not just a simple assault given the consequences to the victim.”

Kereama had been at the Sail and Anchor Bar in Timaru, at 1am on April 10, when an associate of hers was being arrested, and she started yelling abuse at police.

“The defendant was warned about her behaviour and the possibility of arrest several times,” the summary of facts says.

Kereama then yelled “f… this” and proceeded to charge towards the arresting officers.

“She attempted to physically obstruct the arrest and yell encouragement to her associate.”

Kereama was arrested at 1.16am and during the arrest process she “physically resisted police by tensing her arms while trying to pull away and swinging her legs back at officers.”

The summary says when the defendant was being processed into custody she spat directly into a constable’s face.

“The defendant tested positive for Covid the next day and consequently the victim contracted Covid two days later.”

On September 15, Kereama will also be sentenced for driving while suspended. Kereama’s licence was suspended for three months on April 3, 2022, and she was intercepted by police in Newton St, Timaru, on May 7, 2022.