Court told of alleged threats to son by ‘Black Widow’
“Whispers” at Christchurch Prison about threats by Adam Francis Murray Kearns’ mother — the “Black Widow”, convicted murderer Helen Milner — led to him obtaining a sawn-of shotgun for his protection.
The Christchurch District Court was told about the allegation at the 24-year-old’s sentencing where Judge David Saunders granted him home detention rather than a jail term.
But the judge told Kearns that he could not expect to keep “trading” on his well publicised family misfortunes.
He now had positive supports in the community, from a landlord, employer, family and friends who would steer him away from the drug scene and his anti-social behaviour.
After avoiding a jail term today, Kearns will immediately take up work as a roofing apprentice.
Defence counsel Claire Hislop told the court that Kearns had got into cannabis dealing to make enough money to leave Christchurch last November. She said: “He wasn’t sure where he wanted to go — maybe Wellington — but he just wanted to get out of Christchurch.”
She acknowledged the shotgun found in his backpack during a drugs raid on his address in South Shore was “a contentious issue” but Kearns accepted he did not have a reasonable excuse for having it.
There were alleged threats against him by his mother, who had already been jailed for the murder of her husband. She had earlier sent false texts that got Kearns locked up for 16 days on charges of breaching a protection order, and he had given evidence as a Crown witness at her murder trial.
Miss Hislop said police accepted that they had been informed about some threats but they understandably could not comment on the legitimacy of the threats.
Kearns had heard “whispers from the prison” that his mother was making these threats but the police could not take matters further because they did not have credible information.
For those reasons, he had the shotgun in his possession for intimidation. It was unloaded and dismantled.
Kearns was arrested after police became aware of his cannabis dealing. He was held in custody, and later released under strict electronic bail conditions for months.
Judge Saunders ordered the forfeiture of $5490 cash — drug dealing money — that the police found in his possession, and the shotgun. He was found with resealable plastic bags containing cannabis in a bucket.
Miss Hislop referred to Kearns’ “conflicted and dysfunctional upbringing”. “He has been a defendant, witness, and victim against his own mother in recent years.”
Judge Saunders noted that Kearns had begun with car-related offences but had widened his scope in 2011 with drug dealing and dishonesty offending. He had served a variety of community based sentences.
“I am aware of the difficulties you have had in recent years. They have been well publicised,” said the judge. He took the personal factors into account in granting a home detention sentence.
Kearns’ upbringing had been affected by the dysfunctional parenting that took place. He was removed from his mothers’ care in his adolescent years, which had a serious impact. He had since had personal health issues “around depression”.
Judge Saunders told Kearns: “You are entitled to some sympathy but it is not something that you can continue to trade upon from this point on.”
Kearns had pleaded guilty to selling cannabis, possession of the drug for supply, and unlawful possession of the shotgun.
Judge Saunders sentenced him to eight months of home detention, 150 hours of community work, with special conditions that he attend psychological treatment, counselling, and programmes as directed.
Category: News
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