Points class with names to access columns

Points class

class Points(np.matrixlib.defmatrix.matrix):
    
    def __new__(cls, *args, names=[], **kwargs):
        o = np.matrixlib.defmatrix.matrix.__new__(cls, *args, **kwargs)
        # We need to adjust here __class__
        # such that o is of type Points and the __init__ get
        # automatically called
        o.__class__ = Points
        return o
    
    def __init__(self, *args, names=[], **kwargs):
        assert(isinstance(names,list)) # Needs to be a list!
        # Set the attribute self.<pointName> 
        # to a reference of the corresponding column
        for i,name in enumerate(names):
            self.__setattr__(name, self[:,i])
            
        # Set the point indices, for the __setattr__
        self.__setattr__("pointIndices", {t:i for i,t in enumerate(names)})
        
    def __setitem__(self, name, val):
        if isinstance(name,str) and hasattr(self, "pointIndices"):
            if name in self.pointIndices:
                self[:,self.pointIndices[name]] = val
                return
        super(Points, self).__setitem__(name, val)

    def __getitem__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        if isinstance(args[0],str) and hasattr(self, args[0]):
            return getattr(self,args[0])
        return super(Points, self).__getitem__(*args, **kwargs)
    
    def __setattr__(self,name,val):
        """ This setter is needed, to make assignment work 
            (e.g self.<pointName> = np.mat([1,2,3]).T) 
            Without this setter: we would accidentally assign 
            self.<pointName> to a new object.
        """
        if hasattr(self, "pointIndices"):
            if name in self.pointIndices:
                self[:,self.pointIndices[name]] = val
                return
        super(Points, self).__setattr__(name,val)