A former rest-home worker accused of taping a resident's mouth shut told the police that the resident, who is deaf and mute, regularly taped her own mouth shut because she knew she was noisy and disturbed other residents.
The worker, who has name suppression, faces a charge of common assault over the incident at the Belhaven rest home in Auckland in June last year.
The Auckland District Court has heard that the incident was reported by a maintenance worker who saw the resident's mouth taped shut and took a photograph as evidence.
In a video interview with police, the accused said the resident regularly taped her own mouth shut to avoid disturbing others.
The accused has also suggested that another staff member may have applied the tape.
The accused's lawyer has conceded that there is a prima facie case to answer; the matter has been adjourned to a call-over in June.
