‘Rangatira’ begins jail term
A mother has pleaded in court for her son to be allowed to return to his whanau as “Rangatira” now that his father, South Island Black Power gang president Ardie Beazley, has died.
But the request was refused by Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish as she sentenced Chance Mangukaha Beazley, 29, for the mugging of a 68-year-old woman in Linwood in June.
The judge said she was ruling out any home detention sentence for Beazley and would not grant him permission to apply if a suitable address became available during the 18-month jail term she imposed.
The address suggested in Naenae, Lower Hutt, was not supported by probation or the Child, Youth, and Family Service.
Beazley’s mother asked permission to speak at the sentencing, and then said: “I am his mother, who wants him to come back to the fold in Naenae. He’s our Rangatira now and he needs to come home to his family. That’s what I am pleading. He’s got to come home and be the Rangatira to his brothers and sisters.”
Beazley had pleaded guilty to the robbery and had wanted to meet the victim at a Restorative Justice conference to apologise directly, but she had declined the meeting. She was badly traumatised by the incident.
Beazley’s defence counsel David Bunce said the incident had occurred at a time when there was a good deal going on in Beazley’s life. His father and stepmother had both been ill at the time, and his father had now died.
He said: “In view of the background he’s had, it goes a long way to explain the previous offences he’s got on his list. In some ways it is surprising it’s not worse for a man of his age.”
Judge Farish offered her condolences to the family in court for the death of Beazley’s father. She noted that Chance Beazley had abided by the conditions of a day-release granted by the High Court for him to leave prison on Monday to attend the funeral, and then return to custody.
The robbery occurred after the woman had withdrawn $800 at a money machine at Eastgate. Beazley snatched her purse as she sat at a nearby bus stop. The plucky woman held on to her bag, and although Beazley didn’t get the purse, the money disappeared.
He was pursued and caught by members of the public, and when police searched him there was no sign of the cash.
Judge Farish said the woman was now fearful of people she did not know and was always looking over her shoulder.
Beazley told police on the day that the offending was not because he was high on drink or drugs, but because he was not thinking. He had an extensive history of offending, but nothing involving robbery, or aggravated robbery.
The judge said it had been a brazen and opportunistic offence.
Jailing him, she also ordered him to undergo a rehabilitation programme for offenders after his release, when he may move to Naenae. She said: “If Naenae is where your whanau is, and where you have got positive support, then that’s a good idea.”
Family members in court called out their thanks to the judge, and said, “I love you” to Beazley as he was led away to begin his jail term.
Category: Focus
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