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Policeman’s conduct ‘truly outrageous’
- Saturday, 01 November 2008
A judge has slammed the "truly outrageous" conduct of a Christchurch police officer who elbowed a man three times in the face while he was handcuffed in a patrol car.
Judge Colin Doherty said Constable Nathan Connolly committed a "gratuitous assault" and awarded $5000 to victim Steven Fredericks.
Fredericks, 23, of Taylorville, and friend Ronnie McGee were driving out of Revingtons Hotel, in Greymouth, on September 8, 2005, when the incident occurred.30pm, they were stopped by a police patrol, which included Connolly.
Leaving the carpark about 10.
Although the judge found McGee was "obstreperous" during the incident, he concluded Fredericks was a "reticent and relatively subdued personality". McGee took a breath test, which he failed.
Earlier this month, the Greymouth District Court heard that Connolly tried to get Fredericks out of the car and a scuffle developed which ended with him being handcuffed on the ground and then put in the police car. .
As Connolly put the seatbelt on Fredericks, the officer elbowed him in the face, the judge found. His conduct carried with it a sense of retribution; of reinforced arrogance.
"Constable Connolly was in my view frustrated and wanted to teach the plaintiff a lesson as a result of his earlier resistance.
Connolly denied he hit Fredericks and a fellow officer said he had not seen anything "untoward"."
The judge said "right-minded people" would find these actions "abhorrent".
The judge said the case came down to one man's word against the other's, but that Fredericks' evidence had "the ring of truth about it".
The judge said the case came down to one man's word against the other's, but that Fredericks' evidence had "the ring of truth about it".
Fredericks' co-counsel Jonathan McCarthy said the judgment gave him the "greatest confidence in our justice system"."
A doctor said the injuries to Fredericks' face were consistent with being hit in the eye socket and nose. was told yesterday that he was taking "extended leave".
Since the incident, Connolly has moved to Christchurch. The officer was being dealt with under a human resources employment process.
Police spokesperson Jon Neilson said the case was still "in the court process in terms of a right of appeal".
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Taranaki farmer electrocuted
By MATT RILKOFF - Saturday, 01 November 2008
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Family members comfort each other after the tragedy.
A Tarata farmer has been electrocuted and another man narrowly escaped the same fate in a tragic back-country accident yesterday afternoon.
It appears the dead man was running an electric fence line up a hill on his farm when the line came into contact with overhead powerlines.
Details of what happened at the Motukawa Rd farm to the east of Inglewood are still unclear.
The understands it was thought at first that he had suffered a heart attack so the dangerous nature of the accident scene was not realised.
An Inglewood doctor was called to the scene but was unable to revive the man, who is understood to be 43-44 years old and to have three school age children.
Senior Constable Alistair Balsom, of Inglewood, said the doctor used a polar fleece jacket and flicked the live wire away.
While the doctor was still in attendance to the dead man, an acquaintance of the victim took it upon himself to connect the fence and received an electric shock. If it wasn't for him the second guy would be dead," he said.
"Thank God for Dr Finnigan.
The Taranaki Rescue helicopter received notice of the first incident at about 3.
Last night the second man was in a comfortable condition at Taranaki Base Hospital. Just before landing at the accident site they were informed the man was dead.45pm and took off to attend the scene at 4pm.35pm.
The rescue crew talked briefly with medical personnel already there before flying back to base, arriving at 4.
When they arrived eight minutes later, the man was conscious and able to talk.
Just 25 minutes later they received another call that a second man had been shocked at the same location and they returned to the scene.
"It seemed he was running out an electric fence and we are unsure of what specifically happened but the man received an electric shock. . Soon after another man thought he would do the right thing, picked up the fence to connect it and did exactly the same thing. He collapsed and he couldn't be revived.
The body of the deceased man was removed from the scene by police at approximately 7."
He said the first call police received of the accident was from medical personnel and for a time they thought two people had been killed. A number of visibly upset family members and friends were at the location. A number of visibly upset family members and friends were at the location.
A spokesperson for the Department of Labour said they would be unable to comment on the accident until their investigation was complete.
The man's identity will not be released until family members overseas have been informed.
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‘She was ugly and didn’t listen’ - Nia’s mum
The Saturday, 01 November 2008
Lisa Kuka, Nia Glassie's mother, was overheard at Starship children's hospital in Auckland telling a phone caller from Australia that she had seen Nia being picked up and thrown against a wall, a court has been told.
Crown witness Robyn Armstrong, an intensive care unit ward clerk, gave evidence during the murder trial in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday. She said that she took a call from Australia for Kuka at the hospital, two days after Nia was admitted in a coma.
"Lisa said [to the caller] `hang on a minute, it wasn't me'.
Under examination by prosecutor Amanda Gordon, Mrs Armstrong said she heard "someone yelling on the other end of the phone".. She then said: `I saw it happen … I saw it . I was there… He put her head between his legs and hit her head on the floor three times and then threw her . ..
Panama Le'au'anae, Kuka's lawyer, asked Mrs Armstrong if she was not mistaken."
Neither the caller, nor the person who allegedly harmed Nia, were identified by name in court. "Lisa spoke clearly, calmly and quite loud. Mrs Armstrong said she was not.. I was profoundly affected by what I heard . there's no way I was mistaken..
Earlier witness Nicole Kuka, Lisa Kuka's adult niece, said she discussed Nia's injuries with accused Oriwa Kemp at Starship on July 23, the next day Nia was admitted."
Mrs Armstrong said she later made notes on what she had heard and gave them to police.
The trial continues next week with evidence from medical specialists and forensic experts.
The trial continues next week with evidence from medical specialists and forensic experts.
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Wgtn eyes lucrative World Cup pool games
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Wellington has its eyes on hosting British and Irish rugby teams for 2011 Rugby World Cup pool games to cash in on their lucrative fan base.
Afterits successful bid to host two quarterfinals, Wellington submitted yesterday its proposal to host up to five pool games and several teams.
"They normally bring a lot of fans with them," Wellington City Council events manager John Dawson said.
It is hoped one of those games will involve the All Blacks, while teams that have a high level of support - England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales - are second on the list.
Mr Dawson would not say how much the bid would cost.
The bid was a joint effort between the region's nine local authorities, the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust, Wellington and Wairarapa rugby unions and local tourism agencies.
Though matches would be played at Westpac Stadium, it was hoped teams would be hosted and train at other venues throughout the region, including Wairarapa. The games are expected to add about $21 million to the Wellington regional economy.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said it had been demonstrated in the past that the region was able to host successful major international events. .
"We have a number of exciting plans for Rugby World Cup 2011."
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Man dies at rail crossing
The Saturday, 01 November 2008
Aman believed to be in his 20s was killed instantly when the car he was driving smashed into a slow-moving train in Napier.
At midday yesterday a late-model Toyota Corolla hatchback passed a long queue of cars that had been stopped by KiwiRail staff at a crossing in Prebensen Drive.
The line is a siding used to take containers from a depot to the Palmerston North-Gisborne line.
There are no barrier arms or flashing lights at the crossing, which has been in use since December last year and is used up to twice a day in off-peak hours. Visibility was good and it was a clear, sunny day. The train was travelling at about 15kmh.
Sergeant Ray Wylie said it appeared speed may have been a factor, but it was too early to say what caused the collision.
Witnesses said the eastbound hatchback, which hit the sixth carriage, was in the westbound lane.
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Toxic sites report stays secret for three years
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Arsenic levels on an old sawmill site - and beside a rural fire station - were 66 times the safe limit, a report kept from the public for three years says.
Carter Holt Harvey, which owned the old Waikoau site, gave the report to Hawke's Bay Regional Council in August, after the council requested information on former sawmills in response to an Environment Ministry study of mill contamination.
Arsenic was found just metres from a rural fire station, and 100 metres from the nearest house.
The report - which also found PCP (pentachlorophenol antisapstain treatment) at 175 times the allowable level at a different site - was written in June 2005 but never made public.
"We don't want people in there.
Regional council environmental manager Murray Buchanan said any contact with the soil could be harmful to people. "Kids getting in there and playing would certainly not be desirable. I mean let's face it, when you're dealing with contaminated sites you don't want people in there," Mr Buchanan said.
The ministry has compiled a database of sites where PCP was used to assist regional councils monitor the use of these sites."
The council has concerns about the potential for contamination to spread with runoff and has asked the company to conduct further studies. Timber was treated at the plant from 1967 till 1981.
The former timber-processing plant at the village of Waikoau, about 40 kilometres north of Napier, contains two sites with extremely high levels of arsenic and PCP.
Mr Buchanan said he was surprised the company had not given the council the report when it was completed. Carter Holt Harvey has owned the land since 1978. They are not obliged to but there is a strong expectation it would be provided. "In the normal course of events if someone had a report like this they would provide it to us. This had not been carried out."
On August 6 the regional council requested the company to erect signs and fences around two sites.
Mitigation measures at the contaminated site will be managed by Carter Holt Harvey at its cost.
Mr Buchanan said further studies were required by the company to see if contamination was migrating from the site into waterways or neighbouring land.
Carter Holt environmental manager Murray Parrish said the contaminated sites had not been fenced off in the past because "the risk was not considered high".
Local farmer and volunteer fire brigade member Trevor Chambers said members were aware of the contaminated site and did not spend time "hanging around" the area. .
"It comes back to the risk of exposure.
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Warning as fireworks go on sale
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Fireworks are about to line store shelves, prompting a reminder from emergency services about public safety.
Retailers are allowed to sell fireworks from tomorrow for four days leading up to Guy Fawkes Day on Wednesday.
Sales restrictions introduced last year have been credited for a 33 per cent fall in damage to property and fireworks-related injuries.
Inspector Marc Paynter said despite last year's improvement there had still been incidents of stupidity, including fireworks being fired at a petrol tanker.
The sales period was cut from 10 days, the age limit for buying fireworks was raised from 14 to 18 and sparklers had to be sold in packs with other fireworks. " If people are old enough to buy fireworks, they are old enough to behave responsibly.
"Safety should be at the forefront of people's minds when using fireworks," he said. If you see people being reckless with fireworks …"
The biggest success of the sales restrictions was a reduction in sparkler bombs. call 111. . Police also had to deal with five days of "mayhem", rather than 10, he said.
Fire Service Acting National Commander Bill Butzbach said fireworks were safe if used properly and "providing they're not mixed with alcohol and drugs and kids".
Fire Service Acting National Commander Bill Butzbach said fireworks were safe if used properly and "providing they're not mixed with alcohol and drugs and kids"."
Mr Butzbach said public fireworks displays were the safest way to celebrate Guy Fawkes. It's really a matter of keeping up the good work.
Public fireworks displays are scheduled to be held throughout the country on Guy Fawkes night, including the Pelorus Trust Sky Show, which could draw 150,000 people to Wellington's waterfront.
However, if people wanted to have their own displays he urged them to have a bucket of water close by and to let fireworks off in open areas away from buildings. Never throw fireworks.
SAFETY TIPS: Tell your neighbours before using fireworks. Keep pets indoors while using fireworks. Never put fireworks in your pocket. Take the wind conditions into account. Fireworks should be used in a clear, open space away from ignition sources and out of reach of children. Read fireworks packaging by torch. Read fireworks packaging by torch. Never with a naked flame. Fireworks should be used only under adult supervision. Light fireworks at arm's length. If a firework fails to light, leave it for at least 10 minutes then put in a bucket of water.
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Envoy’s link to old grave
By KATHERINE NEWTON Saturday, 01 November 2008
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POIGNANT FIND: George and Margaret Fergusson scrub dirt from John Fergusson’s headstone.
British high commissioner George Fergusson's Kiwi connections have been bolstered with the discovery of the old tombstone of a Wellington relative.
Beneath the decades of growth was the grave of the premature son of former New Zealand governor Sir James Fergusson - Mr Fergusson's great-grandfather.
Mr Fergusson and his wife, Margaret, were at Bolton Street Memorial Park yesterday with a band of volunteers from the high commission, scrubbing off years of moss and dirt from gravestones. .
Sir James' infant son John was born prematurely on October 12, 1873, and died the same day.
But his family were unaware an ancestor was buried there.
Mr Fergusson, the son of former governor-general Sir Bernard Fergusson, spent part of his childhood in Wellington and remembers the controversy that arose when the motorway was put through the old cemetery."
He found out part of the story when he took up the high commissioner post in Wellington in 2006. "It was known that a baby in the family had died young, but we didn't know any more details.
Finding the tombstone was poignant, he said. But he did not know about the sandstone memorial till told about it a few days ago by Priscilla Williams, president of the Friends of Bolton Street Memorial Park. It's a sad story, really. "It's special. "It shows that life in the colonies was tough for everyone."
Ms Williams said John Fergusson's tombstone would be added to the trail map in the cemetery."
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Cruelty to animals on list of shame
Saturday, 01 November 2008
A severely emaciated dog found wandering in Nelson in June is one of 50 examples of human cruelty listed on the Royal New Zealand SPCA's annual List of Shame.
The dog, aged between six and nine months, should have weighed about 20kg but weighed 9. Investigations showed that it had escaped from a wooden run, where the starving animal had eaten polystyrene beans from a bean bag.9kg.
"A particularly chilling feature of the list is the number of incidents of cruelty involving children and young people, such as the two Hastings youths who kicked and tossed a young lamb.
SPCA national chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said the list revealed shocking depths of sadism, brutality and callousness towards other creatures.
The SPCA was making progress in changing attitudes towards animals and securing convictions in cruelty cases, Kippenberger said."
Among the victims listed were a Northland calf beaten to death after it kicked a farm worker, a dog from Huntly killed with an axe, a Napier dog bashed with a bicycle seat, a Te Kuiti goat burned alive, several cats shot with slug guns, and a small dog from Christchurch that was punched and stomped to death by its owner's flatmate. . The annual appeal will start next Saturday, November 8
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Drivers ‘left brains at home’ in traffic sting
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Don Scott
BAD CORNER: Sergeant Peter Daly stands at Christchurch’s worst intersection, Manchester Street and Bealey Avenue.
Motorists drive like they "have left their brains at home", police say after a 90-minute operation yesterday that caught dozens of people breaking the law.30am and 9am.
Sergeant Peter Daly said police prosecuted 38 motorists after targeting Christchurch's worst intersection, at Manchester Street and Bealey Avenue, between 7.
"We do an intersection operation in the morning, then in the afternoon to try to coincide with high volumes of traffic.
Offences ranged from running red and amber traffic lights to failing to wear seatbelts and intersection-blocking. . The crashes are related to traffic flow problems," he said."
Phasing arrows could potentially reduce crashes at the intersection, he said.
"It is no wonder that intersection is a black spot, given the driving behaviour there.
"Drivers can expect little sympathy when stopped for crash-promoting offences as police are committed to reducing injuries and the road toll," he said.
The Intersection Safety Team, which ran the operation, was funded by a recent Government initiative that would continue to focus on high-risk intersections and high-risk driving, Daly said.