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LATEST COURT NEWS:
Drunk mum went driving with children
Friends tried but failed to stop a high-level drink-driver leaving Waikuku with her two young children in the car – and she soon crashed into a bridge.
HIV expert tells of children being 'overwhelmed'
A British medical expert has told of the rapid, catastrophic decline of children with HIV who develop and overwhelming infection, on the 15th day of the High Court trial of George Evans Gwaze on charges of sexual violation and murder.
Delay for hearing in rampage case
A trial committal has been delayed for a man charged with an armed rampage across Christchurch.
Woman admits Instant Kiwi thefts
A woman has admitted stealing four Instant Kiwi tickets and using an associate to try to claim a $100,000 prize off one of them.
Community detention outcome for kidnap attempt
The woman who tried to kidnap a baby boy from the maternity ward at St George’s Hospital has ended up with a community detention sentence more than three years after committing the offence.
Crown expert criticised at Gwaze murder trial
A clarification of evidence by a Crown witness in the George Gwaze murder trial cast “considerable doubt” on her reliability, defence counsel Jonathan Eaton said on the trial’s 14th day today.
Contractor jailed for garage sales with stolen goods
A red zone contractor who shipped stolen goods from Christchurch to the North Island for “monster garage sales” has been jailed for two years.
Police may reconsider charge against singer
A seven-week remand has been granted for police to reconsider an assault charge against well-known country singer John Denver Grenell, after being told he is ill.
Red zone burglar in custody for sentence
A man who admitted burglaries of red-zoned homes in Bexley said he needed the money to move to a new address after losing all his possessions in the February earthquake.
Expert believes girl's injuries from 'blunt force trauma'
A South African medical expert said her “firm opinion” was that the injuries seen on Charlene Makaza were caused by blunt force trauma, in evidence on the 13th day of the murder trial of George Evans Gwaze.
Child care worker dealt in meth
A Greymouth child care worker has admitted dealing in the class A drug methamphetamine for a year.
Drug offender 'in fear of life'
A drug offender says he is in fear of his life because he is wrongly suspected of being an undercover officer.
Man 'pretended to be police' at accident scene
A St Albans man’s "foolish" actions in pretending to be a police officer when he was involved in a minor traffic accident has led to a sentence of community detention.
HIV would not account for injuries, says pathologist
An overwhelming bacterial infection arising from HIV would not adequately explain the brain damage and injuries found on Charlene Makaza, forensic pathologist Dr Martin Sage told the Gwaze murder trial.
Jail term 'cold comfort' for fraudster's victims
A jail term for a 36-year-old offender was “probably cold comfort” for the South Island moteliers he ripped off, said a Christchurch District Court judge.
HIV not directly responsible for Charlene's death - doctor
A paediatrician who treated Charlene Makaza has told the High Court in Christchurch that she does not believe there is any evidence that HIV was directly responsible for the child’s death.
Loaded firearm found at cannabis tinny house
A loaded firearm was found at a cannabis-dealing tinny house which had Mongrel Mob connections.
Judge sends message to drug enforcers
A judge has sent a tough message to drug world enforcers – they can expect to serve serious jail time.
Meth trafficker 'profited from human misery'
A judge accused a methamphetamine trafficker of “profiting out of human misery” and jailed him for four years four months.
Murder of 'great friend' admitted
Keith Donald Bonner told police he had killed one of his greatest friends, when he bashed and strangled a Papanui bar worker, Tracey Lee Morris.
Trial hears evidence of tears on Charlene
A series of anal tears on Charlene Makaza was found during examination when she was brought to Christchurch Hospital, the High Court murder trial of her uncle, George Evans Gwaze, was told today.
Teen said he 'didn't care' if victim died
Trying to strangle his former girlfriend three times, and punching another woman during the same incident, has led to a four month home detention sentence for an 18-year-old.
Offender 'doesn't know what to do outside prison'
A 47-year-old man who said he liked prison because he liked the routine and didn’t know what to do on the outside, was sent back to jail for six months yesterday.
Fines remitted for jailed drugs dealer
It was a $27,000 pay day yesterday for convicted drug dealer Timothy Andrew Whittle who is serving a three-year six-month jail term.
Signs of brain injury described at trial
Charlene Makaza showed signs of brain or neurological injury when she was in a resuscitation room at Christchurch Hospital’s emergency department, a paediatrician has told the High Court at Christchurch..
Teen nuisance gets one last chance
An 18-year-old’s trail of nuisance offending has got him into plenty of trouble but he’s been given a six week chance to prove he can get his life back on track.
Teen shooter will have to explain and apologise
A teen who shot a 17-year-old woman five times with paintball pellets in a St Albans street will have to explain his actions at a family group conference.
Burglary accused elects trial by jury
A man who police allege burgled red-stickered houses in Balmoral Lane, Mount Pleasant, has pleaded not guilty and is opting for trial by jury.
Teen admits $2000 Trade Me scam
A 17-year-old Trade Me scammer admitted a charge of computer crime worth $2000 in Christchurch District Court today.
Doctor describes wound on child at murder trial
A doctor has described finding a gaping wound in the anal area of 10-year-old Charlene Makaza after she was brought to Christchurch Hospital.
Queenstown labelled 'drug party town'
Queenstown has been labelled a “party town for drugs” by a judge who was sentencing a woman for dealing.
Doctor spoke of sexual abuse concern in Gwaze case
A nurse at the 24-Hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue said she was surprised when the doctor who treated Charlene Makaza suggested that it might be a case of sexual abuse.
Burglar in jail for threats to witness
A burglar who was able to trace a police witness and threaten her with text messages is now in jail awaiting sentence.
Nurse tells trial of family seeking help for child
A nurse has told of 10-year-old Charlene Makaza – alleged to be the victim of sexual violation and murder – being brought critically unwell to the 24-Hour Surgery in Bealey Avenue.
Heavier penalties for wildlife smugglers needed - Judge
A judge repeated his call for a heavier penalties for native wildlife smugglers as he jailed a German visitor for 16 weeks for hunting rare and protected jewelled geckos on Banks Peninsula.
Friday at Court
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People newly arrested and those remanded in custody will appear in the No 2 District Court at the Court House in Durham Street. The Court House will also have sessions dealing with sentencings, and pre-trial conferences.
It is the 15th day of the High Court trial of George Evans Gwaze, 60, on charges of sexually violating and murdering his niece Charlene Makaza at the family's Christchurch home in January 2007. The trial is before Justice French and a jury in the No 1 High Court on level four. (A report now appears on this page.)
Jury trials are scheduled for the District Courts on level two.
People remanded on bail or summoned to court will appear at the Nga Hau e Wha marae in Pages Road, Aranui, from 10am.
Police Watch
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Quote of the Week
“I am assuming this defendant falls into the stupid category rather than anything more sinister.”
Christchurch District Court Judge John Macdonald comments on a 19-year-old's antics with a paintball gun at a property in Phillipstown, during which a passing cyclist was hit on the helmet.
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