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LATEST COURT NEWS:
Apology for assault on woman judge
A 27-year-old man has apologised to the Christchurch District Court woman judge he assaulted by grabbing her in a bear-hug in court at the end of a mental health hearing last year.
Hunger striker denies assault charges
A man who refused to talk to a judge, or a lawyer, and went on a hunger strike in prison, has now pleaded not guilty to five charges laid by police after incidents at Christchurch Airport, and the Central Police Station.
Blackmail charge over text threats
Text threats to a woman have led to a blackmail conviction for a 38-year-old man who pleaded guilty in the Christchurch High Court today.
Hayden Miles murder charge to be defended
Gavin John Gosnell will defend the charge of murdering teenager Hayden Miles, his defence counsel announced today at a Christchurch District Court appearance.
Stolen goods obtained from young offenders, court told
A judge refused home detention for a Queenstown offender’s “somewhat Dickensian” approach to crime.
Home detention for bold welfare fraudster
A repeat welfare fraudster has been granted home detention – without any help from her ill-chosen t-shirt.
Offender kept cousin's money from quake grant
A repeat offender was sentenced to community detention, community work, and ordered to pay back $1000 he obtained as a grant from the Red Cross after the February earthquake.
Wine industry labour manager 'out of his depth'
A man got well out of his depth running a business supplying labour to the wine industry and ended up facing sentencing for 55 tax charges in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Extra prison time for quake burglaries
A man got nine months extra on his prison sentence for burgling earthquake-damaged and vulnerable buildings – including taking chalices from the Catholic cathedral – at his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court today.
'Parasite' gets home detention
Convicted burglar Bevan Arthur Adcock got home detention, but he probably did not enjoy his sentencing in Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Extreme threats before assault on wife
Bizarre and threatening behaviour by Lulu Latu in the lead-up to an assault on his wife has drawn a remand in custody for sentence next month.
Attempted murder charge over stabbing
An 33-year-old man was remanded for a psychiatric report on his fitness to plead after being charged with attempted murder over a stabbing incident in Addington yesterday.
Woodend shooting followed text threats, court told
A Woodend man has admitted shooting a man who allegedly threatened him by texts and then arrived at his property.
Teen gets bail on All Black burglary charges
An unemployed 17-year-old charged with three burglaries of the quake-damaged home of former All Black Graeme Bachop has been granted bail for a two week remand.
On-line cheat gets a blast from probation
Probation describes repeat on-line cheat Shannon Marie Cleave-Harvey’s performance as “abysmal” and says she is unco-operative and unreliable.
Sex assault on drunk, sleeping teen admitted
A 40-year-old man who took advantage of a drunk and sleeping teenager to commit two sex offences, has been jailed for two years six months.
Double father-to-be jailed for burglary
A 20-year-old who says he is a reformed gang prospect has been jailed for a Christchurch burglary, leaving behind his partner and his former partner both expecting his babies.
Jailed transient expects more of 'the same'
Peter James Ashwell is vague about his future.
Career burglar jailed for four years
Steven Albert Tavinor’s Trans-Tasman criminal career is on hold again after another $100,000 spree of offences that added 11 more burglary convictions to his total.
Driver jailed for causing police chase
Christchurch’s busted roads did not slow down 29-year-old James Carpenter when the police spotted him driving while disqualified.
Court marks death of defence lawyer
The Christchurch District Court stood in silence at the Nga Hau e Wha marae in Aranui today in memory of defence lawyer Stuart Poore who died suddenly at the weekend after a long illness.
Police add arson to charge in murder-related case
Police have added arson to an accessory charge faced by a man alleged to have assisted the accused murderer of Christchurch teenager Jade Bayliss.
Another level of Court House opens for business
Another level of Christchurch’s central city Court House reopened for court business yesterday.
Indecencies with boy 26 years ago admitted by manager
The manager at a large Kaiapoi rest home complex has been refused name suppression at his sentencing for sex offending against a young boy 26 and 27 years ago.
Further custody remand for murder accused
A 53-year-old man accused of the rape and murder of a woman bar worker has been further remanded in custody, at a Christchurch District Court appearance inside the men’s prison today.
Patient admits biting hospital staff member
It took nearly a minute to get Steven Garlick’s jaws off the wrist of a Hillmorton Hospital security staff member.
Jail term for bottling in the face
Bottling a man in the face in a scuffle outside a Christchurch bar has brought an 11-month jail term for 20-year-old Spencer Stephen Karaka.
Name suppression lifted on Waltham murder accused
Name suppression has been lifted on a 25-year-old man accused of the murder of 65-year-old Kenneth John Moore at a house in Waltham.
Thief struck while quake city was reeling
A convicted thief who stole four Christchurch City Council generators while the city was reeling from the February earthquake and 13,400 people were without power has been jailed for 18 months.
Long jail term for machete attack on woman
A 22-year-old’s machete attack that nearly severed a woman’s wrist and led her to have an abortion has drawn an eight-and-a-half year jail term, at his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court.
Repeat arsonist assessed as high risk
Repeat arsonist Troy Michael Wells has gone to jail for two years nine months after a warning from the Probation Service that he remains a high risk reoffender.
Time extended for murder trial committal
No decision has been made yet on whether to commit Jeremy George Edward McLaughlin for trial for the murder of 13-year-old Jade Louise Bayliss.
SPCA reduces charge in shot-dog case
The SPCA has agreed to reduce a charge against a man alleged to have repeatedly shot a dog in the head.
$128,000 in fraudulent ACC claims alleged
The Accident Compensation Corporation alleges a Hornby woman has fraudulently claimed more than $128,000 for care of a family member during 2008-09.
Fisheries seeking urgent dates for evidence in Oyang 75 case
The Ministry of Fisheries is worried the Immigration Department could cause problems in a major fisheries case by deporting crew members it wants to remain in New Zealand as witnesses.
Friday at Court
You can follow Chchcourts on Twitter.
The High Court has a pre-trial call-over to settle trial arrangements for some important upcoming cases from 9am at the Court House. (A report of guilty pleas from one accused at the call-over now appears on this page.)
People newly arrested will appear at 10am and 2.15pm sessions at the No 2 District Court on the ground floor of the Christchurch Court House. Hayden Miles murder accused Gavin Gosnell is expected to make a remand appearance after being held in custody for preparation of a psychiatric report. (A report now appears on this page.)
That court also has a list of sentencings to be dealt with today, and visiting judges are sitting in two other courts upstairs to do sentencings at 11.45am and 2.15pm. Among the afternoon sentencings is Muhammad Tanvir, 27, who has admitted assaulting a Christchurch judge at the end of a mental health court hearing. (A report now appears on this page.)
The Christchurch District Court has no sitting in the men's prison today for people remanded in custody.
People remanded on bail or summoned to appear at court will appear at the Nga Hau e Wha marae in Pages Road, Aranui, from 10am.
With the central city Court House only partially open, other courts are sitting at various venues around the city.
Police Watch
Details of police alerts are on the Police Watch page. Click the link at left.
Quote of the Week
“A fellow has to do what a fellow has to do. This is a joke. The judge will just release me again.”
This reply was recorded by the police from a 19-year-old caught driving while disqualified while on bail, when they asked why he was continuing to offend. Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders saw the irony in it and the upset teenager stayed in custody.
Observations Page
A glimpse of one of our possible futures. Click the link at left for the Observations page.
