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LATEST COURT NEWS:
Guilty verdicts in child sexual abuse trial
A Christchurch man has been found guilty on 12 out of 14 child sexual abuse charges at the end of his seven-day trial in the Christchurch District Court, and remanded in custody for sentence.
Year's jail for repeat driving offender
Joel Allan Linwood has paid the price for his refusal to obey the court’s disqualification orders — again.
Grandmother admits assault with stick
A grandmother who used a 30cm stick from a Maori traditional game as a weapon, left extensive bruising on her nine-year-old grandson, the Christchurch District Court was told today.
Youth faces pellet gun charges
A registrar’s remand was granted to a Northcote teenager charged with firing an airgun to frighten people and endanger property.
Axe charge admissions halt trial
An axe and a knife were wielded in a central city confrontation between two groups last April.
Conference suggested over indecency charge
Defence counsel is working to set up a restorative justice conference for the alleged victim of a Methodist minister who faces an indecent assault charge.
Gun-point liquor shop robbery admitted
Joshua Peter Brennan has admitted shoving a sawn-off shotgun in the face of a liquor shop worker in a robbery that was part of a $66,600 crime spree.
Widow's act of forgiveness sways judge
An act of forgiveness in court by his victim’s widow has led to a home detention sentence for Phillip Kirkwood Hamilton who drove drunk and killed a cyclist in a hit and run smash.
Court hears of sex victims' on-going trauma
A prison term has drawn a line under Tony John Streeter’s sex offending with under-age girls, but his impact on two Christchurch families clearly remains.
Defence questions reliability of children's evidence
The defence has attacked the reliability of evidence from three child complainants in a sex abuse trial, but the crown has described their testimony as “compelling”.
Westfield Mall arsonist reported his own fire
Robert James Shingleton stayed to watch the $1.7 million fire he started at Westfield shopping mall and even alerted a police officer about the fire and gave his name and details.
Christmas present burglary admitted
Rory Khan Conley has admitted being the Christmas Grinch.
Teen remanded on assault charge
A 19-year-old youth from the Christchurch suburb of Strowan has been remanded on an assault charge after a weekend bashing when partying teenagers clashed in Merivale.
Fugitive Stewart jailed, accused of vanity
Infamous fugitive William Alexander Stewart — now facing a seven year four month jail term — was accused of being vain and courting publicity during his months on the run from police in rural Canterbury.
Nigerian scam victim paid out $452,000
A Woodend woman fell victim to the Nigerian scam and lost $452,206 from the rental car company she worked for at Christchurch Airport.
Breach of protection order denied
A man arrested after an Armed Offenders Squad call-out to a Hills Road property on January 20 has indicated he will defend the charges.
Shoplifting leads to knife confrontation in mall
Shoplifting one earring led to a knife-wielding confrontation in a suburban mall and nine charges for a 19-year-old sentenced in the Christchurch District Court today.
Teen sex offender's 'terrifying' attitude to women
A 17-year-old Black Power gangster with an attitude towards women described in court as “terrifying”, has been jailed for five years for the rape of a 10-year-old girl.
Drug-dealing mental health patient jailed
A mental health patient who was dealing in drugs has been jailed for a year with post-release conditions to keep him on the proper medication.
The Court in 1910: Policeman's helmet cops it
Constable Beeby of the Lyttelton police had a tough time rounding up William Roberts who was apparently drunk and spoiling for a fight.
Stabbing during group confrontation admitted
A 22-year-old has admitted stabbing another man in the body during a confrontation between two groups.
Jury sees taped sex offence allegations
A 12-year-old girl has given evidence alleging sex offending by a man from the time she was aged five.
Young heroin addict refused home detention
Any prospect of home detention has been ruled out for a 20-year-old heroin addict.
Black market paua poachers plead guilty
A two-week black market paua poaching trial never got started after sudden guilty pleas by three men who are now facing likely sentences of home detention and community work.
Crown alleges years of child sexual abuse
A Wainoni man has denied years of sexual abuse of three children, saying that if the abuse by an adult did occur it was not by him.
Charming conman targeted elderly victims
Conman Lachlan Patrick Irvine — described as plausible and charming — has admitted 35 charges including impersonating a police officer and ripping off the elderly clients on his meal delivery route.
Accidents signal possible end to sporting endeavours
Multi-sporter Robert Hunt might have to accept that his years of competition are coming to an end. He’s 86.
Guilty verdict in dairy robbery trial
A jury has accepted a strong circumstantial case against 21-year-old Steven Anthony Paul Emery and convicted him of an attempt to rob a St Albans dairy at knifepoint.
Pile of dishonesty charges comes to court
A Christchurch man has been granted interim name suppression on 167 dishonesty charges.
Judge takes a stand on street violence
“I’m fed up with drunken yobs beating the stuffing out of innocent members of the public.”
Tuesday at Court
The District Court has sentencings and a pre-trial callover at 9.15am before the regular sittings begin from 10am. (Some guilty pleas at the call-over in two cases that were heading for trial. Reports now appear on this page.)
A 17-year-old is expected to appear on charges arising from shots being fired around Christchurch with an air-pellet gun last week. (A report now appears on this page.)
Kenneth Smith, a Methodist minister charged with indecency with a 17-year-old boy at a Rotorua motel, is scheduled to make a remand appearance this morning. (A report now appears on this page.)
Joel Allan Linwood, 20, is scheduled for sentence this afternoon after a remand in custody, on three charges of driving while disqualified on almost successive days. (A report now appears on this page.)
Judge Farish will sum up to the jury from 9.15am on the seventh day of the trial of a man charged with a series of sex offences against three children from 2001 to 2007. The trial is in court 5, level two. (The jury retired to consider its verdicts, after a two-hour summing up by Judge Farish, at 11.15am. The jury went to lunch together, accompanied by court staff, at 1pm and returned to the jury room an hour later. At 5.50pm the jury returned guilty verdicts on 12 of the 14 charges. A report now appears on this page.)
Police Watch
Details of police alerts are on the Police Watch page. Click the link at left.
Quote of the Week
“I need my alcohol."
Unnamed defendant objects to a no-booze condition of his remand on bail as he is ushered from the dock.
"So do I."
Unnamed Christchurch District Court judge replies, towards the end of a long day in the No 1 District Court.
The defendant almost immediately started a fight in the bail room and was taken straight back into custody anyway.
Observations Page
A mother's efforts to help her son get bail fell a bit short of his expectations, when she turned up drunk.
Click the link at left for the Observations page.
Wargaming Group
Commanders wanted:
Rapid promotion guaranteed
The RSA wargame group has its regular meetings from 7pm on the first and third Thursdays of the month, in the billard section downstairs at its central city premises. More tables can be set up as required. The group is pausing for the Christmas break, and while renovations at the rooms are in progress. The next wargaming night will be on Thursday February 4, from 7pm.
Players are expecting to put on colonial and World War 2 games on that night.
Visitors are always welcome. If anyone would like to take part they should contact David at anneanddavid@xtra.co.nz or phone 352-1448 (evenings).
The group wants to expand and needs wargamers, modellers, and researchers willing to help develop and test the rules and to research the scenarios necessary for gamers to refight historical battles.
The wargamers are a social and co-operative group and assistance will be given with any research ventures that would help with development.
Please bring this information to the attention of any wargamers you know.
