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LATEST COURT NEWS:
Struggle at Court House in police threat case
By David Clarkson. An Amberley man got into a struggle with police at the Christchurch Court House straight after being granted bail on a charge of threatening the local constable.
Appeal over fence-line shotgun threat fails
By David Clarkson. A 61-year-old Fernside farmer has lost his bid to overturn convictions for threatening to kill his neighbour and firing a shotgun near his house during a confrontation on their boundary.
Woman charged with Edgeware stabbing
By Anne Clarkson, Updated report. A 23-year-old woman charged with stabbing a man in the back and stabbing her son who was in his arms, was granted bail but refused name suppression in the Christchurch District Court today.
Two years added to sex offender's sentence
By David Clarkson. A repeat child sex offender has escaped an indefinite jail sentence for a second time, but he has been warned that it is his one last chance for rehabilitation.
Teen's blackmail ended with victim's suicide
By David Clarkson. A weeping, terrified teenager has been granted home detention for a blackmail-by-text case that ended with the 40-year-old victim committing suicide.
Chase crash driver admits manslaughter
By David Clarkson. Gang member Fabian Jessie Mika has admitted the manslaughter of a 15-year-old boy who was killed when Mika crashed a stolen vehicle in Bromley four months ago.
Teen bailed on dairy robbery charge
By David Clarkson. A teen charged with the air pistol robbery of a Sockburn dairy was granted bail at an appearance in the Christchurch District Court today.
Woman admits domestic stabbing
David Clarkson. A 43-year-old woman has admitted stabbing her partner in the lower back during a domestic fracas in November.
'Feckless youth' sentenced for role in street robberies
By Anne Clarkson. A teen who was involved with a group who drove around Riccarton, stood over victims, and robbed them, was sentenced to 150 hours community work and ordered to make an emotional harm payment.
Suppression stays for petrol threat accused
By David Clarkson. A man charged with arson and threatening to kill after a bizarre petrol incident in Merivale on June 2 has been granted name suppression at the request of an alleged victim.
Home detention for man who 'can't contain anger'
A 22-year-old has been given home detention for a series of violent incidents including smashing the windscreen of a 64-year-old driver in a fit of road rage.
Two charged with paintball shootings
By Anne Clarkson. Two young men have been charged with shooting a paintball gun at targets across Christchurch last weekend.
Flatmate tells of fears about McLaughlin
By David Clarkson. A 200-hour community work sentence has been imposed on the flatmate who says he was fearful of Jeremy George Edward McLaughlin and helped him hide evidence after the murder of 13-year-old Jade Bayliss.
Electronic bail refused for manslaughter accused
By David Clarkson. A bid for release on electronically monitored bail has been refused for a man facing charges of manslaughter and aggravated robbery.
Extradition granted for former Catholic brother
The Australian Government’s application for extradition of a former Catholic brother on hundreds of sex abuse charges has been granted by Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court.
Teen burgled to get food for family
A 19-year-old burglar told police he had taken items to swap or sell for food and power for his family.
Date set for trumpet theft trial
By David Clarkson. July 1 has been set for the trial of a man charged with stealing musical instruments worth $10,000 from Christchurch’s Anzac Day dawn service.
Bail refused for man charged with injuring couple
By David Clarkson. Bail has been refused for a 59-year-old man who has been charged with an attack on his mother and stepfather which put them in hospital for at least two months.
Man staying in custody after fire threats
By David Clarkson. A man alleged to have covered himself in petrol and threatened to set it alight has had his bid for bail refused in the Christchurch District Court.
Drug dealing at school alleged
By Anne Clarkson. A man charged with selling a family member’s morphine and Ritalin to students at a Christchurch high school has been remanded in custody for two weeks at the Christchurch District Court.
Acquittal on fire fraud charge
David Clarkson. A 34-year-old Christchurch man was acquitted by a jury at the end of a six-day trial in the Christchurch District Court on a charge of setting fire to a Hororata house with the intention of obtaining an insurance pay-out.
Syringe used in robbery attempt, police say
By David Clarkson. Police allege a man used a syringe and needle in an attempt to rob a pharmacy in Phillipstown on Saturday.
Home detention for student loan frauds
By David Clarkson. A woman says her student loan frauds were carried when she was living in Auckland under the influence of a controlling and domineering partner.
Sentencing delay for Ryder assault accused
By David Clarkson. A man who has admitted assaulting cricketer Jesse Ryder has had his sentencing put off until after the trial of his co-accused.
Court may seek psych report on fire accused
By Anne Clarkson. A psychological report may be sought by the court for a man who allegedly threatened to set himself, two police officers, and a house on fire.
'Evil nobody' jailed for at least 18 years for murder
By David Clarkson. Gavin John Gosnell – dismissed as an evil nobody by the family of his teenage victim – has been jailed for at least 18 years for the murder and dismemberment of 15-year-old Hayden Peter Miles
Couple jailed for arson of Sydenham business
By David Clarkson. A judge called a couple “selfish and greedy” before jailing them for a combined six years eight months for burning down their Sydenham auto-repair business when it was in financial trouble.
11-year term for rape of drunken youth
By David Clarkson. A 44-year-old father has been jailed for 11 years, still denying the kidnapping, tying up, and rape of a drunken teenage youth he met in central Christchurch.
Elderly abuser gets 11-year jail term
By David Clarkson. A Christchurch man will be nearly 80 when he becomes eligible to be considered for parole for years of child abuse offending against four girls, some of which he filmed.
'Prolific' offender admits everything, for family
By David Clarkson. A Christchurch man described by police as “a prolific car thief” has insisted on pleading guilty to 16 charges in the hope of being transferred south to be close to his dying grandmother.
Reformed drug dealer looks ahead to fatherhood
By David Clarkson. A reformed drug dealer has been jailed for 18 months but is hoping for release soon, in time for the birth of his child.
Man denies animal ill-treatment charges
By Anne Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae. A man accused of using a weapon to load pigs for transport and bludgeoning 13 chickens to death with an iron bar has pleaded not guilty to seven charges today.
Teen's jail term request is granted
By David Clarkson. A sad 18-year-old who can only cope in prison has got his wish – a 13-month jail term for an attempted dairy robbery.
K2 dependence cited as teen stays in custody
By David Clarkson. A 17-year-old arrested for the armed robbery of a Linwood dairy was already on bail for an earlier robbery when the offence took place on Sunday evening.
Bail granted on pub assault charge
By David Clarkson. Police did not oppose bail when a 21-year-old man was remanded on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after an alleged assault outside Robbie’s Bar, Elmwood, last Thursday night.
Wednesday at Court
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The District Court has a sitting in the No 2 courtroom on the ground floor to handle arrests and custody remands from 10am, with audio-visual links to people in custody at Christchurch Prison at 11am. Jury trials are running in the courts on level two. Sentencings are scheduled for the afternoon in District Courts 2 and 3.
The list court for defendants who have been summoned or are on bail is being held in the No 1 District Court, on the ground floor at the Court House.
Police Watch
Paintball damage and assault across Christchurch. Details of police alerts are on the Police Watch page. Click the link at left.
Quote of the Week
"I think the message needs to go out. While Christchurch needs workers, it needs people who are not in breach of their requirements to the court."
District Court Judge Raoul Neave comments before delaying a bail application for a North Island man who has come to Christchurch looking work, leaving behind a bad relationship and some court obligations in the process.
Observations Page
Teen's bid for release on bail was lacking a certain finesse. Click the link at left for the Observations page.
