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AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy came under attack Thursday after he removed a top French regional official from his post allegedly for failing to prevent a noisy protest during a presidential visit.
The attacks came from across the political spectrum, with local council leader Jean-Francois Legrand from Sarkozy’s ruling UMP party saying it was scandalous that a representative of the state can be used like a Kleenex.
Charbonniaud was subsequently removed from his position and was this week appointed to a post in Paris in a move which various politicians have described as a clear demotion.
Sarkozy was reportedly outraged that Jean Charbonniaud, the prefect or state representative in the northern La Manche region, had not deployed enough police to keep 3,000 protestors at bay when he visited the area this month.
But Sarkozy’s office denied the transfer was a punishment.
This is a state caprice, said Jean Karl Deschamps, a regional opposition leader, adding that: This is an unacceptable abuse of power.
French politics - Nicolas Sarkozy
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Last year the police chief on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica was removed from his job for failing to stop protestors who occupied a villa owned by one of the president’s actor friends
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Tot found wandering alone in Kaikoura
Mum left 16-month-old home alone to go ’socialising’
Sunday, 01 February 2009
A 16-month old toddler has been found on the frontyard of a Kaikoura property after being left home alone overnight.
The boy was found outside a Beach Rd business property by members of the public about 2.45am.
He was placed into Child Youth and Family care until a family member could be found. Inspector Michael Coulter said the boy was taken to the Kaikoura medical centre for a check-up and was found to be in good health.
"The mother admitted leaving the child unattended for approximately four hours while she went out socialising.
"At approximately 4:12am, police were contacted by the distressed mother, who was visiting Kaikoura from the North Island," Mr Coulter said."
Mr Coulter said the boy had woken overnight and left the house he was staying in, possibly through the front door being left open.
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The child will remain in care until the matter has been fully investigated
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‘Depressed’ accused fails to sway judge
- Sunday, 01 February 2009
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FLOOD OF TEARS: Alex Verne Patten, 44, has to face trial despite his lawyer’s plea that his emotional state made a court case difficult.
The lawyer for a "depressed" man facing serious drugs charges tried to have his trial aborted when he claimed his client was so unwell he broke down every time he tried to talk to him about the case.
Barrister Chris Comeskey dramatically illustrated his argument at the Auckland High Court on Friday by pointing at Alex Verne Patten, 44.
"This is as good as it gets.
He was crying and had his head bowed in court.
"I have never encountered anything like this before," Comeskey said of the emotional state of his client, who is charged with supplying methamphetamine and manufacturing the class-A drug. I'm not going to run a trial like that," Comeskey said.
He said being Patten's lawyer "was tantamount to representing someone who is asleep" and there was no way he could give evidence if he exercised his right to do so.
But Justice Hugh Williams said the trial, to start later this month, would go ahead.
A psychiatric report presented to the court confirmed Patten had a mental illness. It won't be an easy trial for anyone," the judge said.
"There will be trial problems that may need to be accommodated."
His decision prompted Comeskey to say he wanted to withdraw as Patten's lawyer. "I have considered all the issues and in my view the level of unfitness is not made out.
The judge told him the court would not allow that to happen.
The judge told him the court would not allow that to happen.
Comeskey agreed, but said he wanted a further psychiatric assessment before the trial began. He needs your expertise," Justice Williams said. . He said he would be seeking the assessment from a specialist the Crown agreed to.
Patten was charged with the two drugs counts, both of which carried maximum terms of life imprisonment.
Patten was arrested in 2005 as part of the four-month, multi-million-dollar Operation Leningrad, which included the arrest of several Highway 61 gang members and associates for alleged drug dealing.
Following the hung jury, in February, 2007, a second trial was scheduled for late last year but was aborted after Patten had a depressive episode.
But jurors in the 20-week trial could not reach verdicts on Patten's charges.
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‘Depressed’ accused fails to sway judge
- Sunday, 01 February 2009
/
FLOOD OF TEARS: Alex Verne Patten, 44, has to face trial despite his lawyer’s plea that his emotional state made a court case difficult.
The lawyer for a "depressed" man facing serious drugs charges tried to have his trial aborted when he claimed his client was so unwell he broke down every time he tried to talk to him about the case.
Barrister Chris Comeskey dramatically illustrated his argument at the Auckland High Court on Friday by pointing at Alex Verne Patten, 44.
"This is as good as it gets.
He was crying and had his head bowed in court.
"I have never encountered anything like this before," Comeskey said of the emotional state of his client, who is charged with supplying methamphetamine and manufacturing the class-A drug. I'm not going to run a trial like that," Comeskey said.
He said being Patten's lawyer "was tantamount to representing someone who is asleep" and there was no way he could give evidence if he exercised his right to do so.
But Justice Hugh Williams said the trial, to start later this month, would go ahead.
A psychiatric report presented to the court confirmed Patten had a mental illness. It won't be an easy trial for anyone," the judge said.
"There will be trial problems that may need to be accommodated."
His decision prompted Comeskey to say he wanted to withdraw as Patten's lawyer. "I have considered all the issues and in my view the level of unfitness is not made out.
The judge told him the court would not allow that to happen.
The judge told him the court would not allow that to happen.
Comeskey agreed, but said he wanted a further psychiatric assessment before the trial began. He needs your expertise," Justice Williams said. . He said he would be seeking the assessment from a specialist the Crown agreed to.
Patten was charged with the two drugs counts, both of which carried maximum terms of life imprisonment.
Patten was arrested in 2005 as part of the four-month, multi-million-dollar Operation Leningrad, which included the arrest of several Highway 61 gang members and associates for alleged drug dealing.
Following the hung jury, in February, 2007, a second trial was scheduled for late last year but was aborted after Patten had a depressive episode.
But jurors in the 20-week trial could not reach verdicts on Patten's charges.
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Women refuse refuge as a result of nearby mosque
By ESTHER HARWARD - Sunday, 01 February 2009
Muslim women are staying away from a domesitc violence crisis centre since a mosque opened next door.
The Auckland Shakti Asian Women's Centre in Onehunga helps women escape violent domestic situations but women are too scared to go because they may be recognised by their husbands or relatives attending the mosque.
Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand Corporation is paying $310 a week $4030 so far for security guards to keep vandals away from the empty building that the women could move into.
The centre has an alternative premises but cannot move in because Auckland City Council has held back planning permission for more than a year.
Women who visited the centre usually did so without telling their husbands, she said.
Centre spokesperson Shila Nair said victims were "really afraid" to go to the centre in Church St, Onehunga in case they were recognised by men worshipping at the Onehunga Islamic Mosque, which is over a boundary fence. We have had instances of women who visited our Women's Centre later accessing our refuge. "If their husbands, in-laws or any other family members or friends were to know that they have visited Shakti, life for them would be even more difficult. Staff tell them what their rights are under New Zealand law."
Most were from Middle Eastern, Africa and Asian countries that don't legislate against domestic violence. Of the calls, half of the women were recommended to visit for counselling, legal advice or training.
The crisis centre took 4800 phone calls last year on a 24 hour nationwide helpline of which 90% were about family violence. .
The housing corporation renovated another building for the women to move to after the mosque bought a building next door from the Jehovah's Witness church. It was not known when the issues would be resolved. Council resource consents team leader Ian Smallburn said the consent was "on hold" as a result of concerns about the impact of parking on neighbours, trees and stormwater.
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The centre opened a decade ago and is the busiest of Shakti's five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, which together they help 6000 women a year escape domestic abuse
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Women refuse refuge as a result of nearby mosque
By ESTHER HARWARD - Sunday, 01 February 2009
Muslim women are staying away from a domesitc violence crisis centre since a mosque opened next door.
The Auckland Shakti Asian Women's Centre in Onehunga helps women escape violent domestic situations but women are too scared to go because they may be recognised by their husbands or relatives attending the mosque.
Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand Corporation is paying $310 a week $4030 so far for security guards to keep vandals away from the empty building that the women could move into.
The centre has an alternative premises but cannot move in because Auckland City Council has held back planning permission for more than a year.
Women who visited the centre usually did so without telling their husbands, she said.
Centre spokesperson Shila Nair said victims were "really afraid" to go to the centre in Church St, Onehunga in case they were recognised by men worshipping at the Onehunga Islamic Mosque, which is over a boundary fence. We have had instances of women who visited our Women's Centre later accessing our refuge. "If their husbands, in-laws or any other family members or friends were to know that they have visited Shakti, life for them would be even more difficult. Staff tell them what their rights are under New Zealand law."
Most were from Middle Eastern, Africa and Asian countries that don't legislate against domestic violence. Of the calls, half of the women were recommended to visit for counselling, legal advice or training.
The crisis centre took 4800 phone calls last year on a 24 hour nationwide helpline of which 90% were about family violence. .
The housing corporation renovated another building for the women to move to after the mosque bought a building next door from the Jehovah's Witness church. It was not known when the issues would be resolved. Council resource consents team leader Ian Smallburn said the consent was "on hold" as a result of concerns about the impact of parking on neighbours, trees and stormwater.
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The centre opened a decade ago and is the busiest of Shakti's five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, which together they help 6000 women a year escape domestic abuse
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Tattooist charged with pimping underage hooker
- Sunday, 01 February 2009
An Auckland tattooist is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl, then pimping her out as an underage prostitute.
Christopher John Barber, 47, from Sunnynook on Auckland's North Shore was arrested last year after the girl complained to police.
He appeared in court in December on four charges of sex with an underage girl, and facilitating and profiting from underage prostitution.
Barber has been remanded to appear later this month. .
"She's not saying it didn't happen. The charges against him carry a maximum combined sentence of 14 years but police fear that because the girl does not want to go through the courts, Barber may not be convicted. She's just reluctant to go through the court system," a police source says. But we're not prepared to withdraw charges based on this.
"We can't force her to.
We can say the pair met through an acquaintance and that the sex was consensual and so was the prostitution, police believe."
The Sunday Star-Times is legally required to protect the girl's identity so cannot reveal some details of how the saga unfolded, because they could be traced to her. He's just formed this relationship and had all sorts of sexual activities, for quite some, several, months.
"He's not a regular pimp or anything.
"And then basically, he has coerced her into prostitution.
"And then basically, he has coerced her into prostitution.
Barber's bail conditions mean he is banned from contacting the girl and is not allowed to be unsupervised with anyone under the age of 16."
It is understood that the pair haven't been together for quite some time, and the girl complained to police after a "push" from her mother. Barber could not be contacted for comment last week.
Police say they had trouble tracking Barber because he deliberately dodged them, and does not often stay at the house he is bailed to.
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Tattooist charged with pimping underage hooker
- Sunday, 01 February 2009
An Auckland tattooist is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl, then pimping her out as an underage prostitute.
Christopher John Barber, 47, from Sunnynook on Auckland's North Shore was arrested last year after the girl complained to police.
He appeared in court in December on four charges of sex with an underage girl, and facilitating and profiting from underage prostitution.
Barber has been remanded to appear later this month. .
"She's not saying it didn't happen. The charges against him carry a maximum combined sentence of 14 years but police fear that because the girl does not want to go through the courts, Barber may not be convicted. She's just reluctant to go through the court system," a police source says. But we're not prepared to withdraw charges based on this.
"We can't force her to.
We can say the pair met through an acquaintance and that the sex was consensual and so was the prostitution, police believe."
The Sunday Star-Times is legally required to protect the girl's identity so cannot reveal some details of how the saga unfolded, because they could be traced to her. He's just formed this relationship and had all sorts of sexual activities, for quite some, several, months.
"He's not a regular pimp or anything.
"And then basically, he has coerced her into prostitution.
"And then basically, he has coerced her into prostitution.
Barber's bail conditions mean he is banned from contacting the girl and is not allowed to be unsupervised with anyone under the age of 16."
It is understood that the pair haven't been together for quite some time, and the girl complained to police after a "push" from her mother. Barber could not be contacted for comment last week.
Police say they had trouble tracking Barber because he deliberately dodged them, and does not often stay at the house he is bailed to.
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Canyoning school rebounds
By - Sunday, 01 February 2009
Theschool recovering from the death of six students and a teacher in a canyoning accident has been inundated with applicants for the new year.
Staff at East Auckland's Elim Christian College "naively" thought the tragedy at Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuit Centre last year would discourage new enrolments.
But principal Murray Burton says his small school, with a roll of around 540, has received double the enrolment applications on previous years.
The victims were swept away by a flash flood in the Mangatepopo Gorge during a school camp in April.
"The numbers have been hugely up.
Burton, named North & South magazine's New Zealander of the Year and also recognised for his leadership by the Principals' Federation following the tragedy, says the school has always had to turn prospective students away but the number applying for the new term starting tomorrow was unprecedented. It's very hard to say no. We've had people desperate to get their children in. But there are plans to expand, Burton says."
The integrated school can accommodate a maximum of 500 domestic students and about 40 international students on its small site.
Parents trying to get their children into the school have told staff they were generally impressed with the staff and school after the accident.
"I think [people] saw the quality of some of the students and how they've coped with the tragedy and how they were interviewed in the media," he says. "We probably naively thought we might see a real drop off this year that people would think, 'Oh gosh, it's unsafe'.
"Perceptions can be very powerful," Burton says. It's swung completely the other way. Particularly of international students are concerned about safety.
"There has been a growing need for us that's taken us completely by surprise."
He says there has also been a greater demand for a school and students with sound values. Some are saying, `we're not churchgoers, but the culture is a good one, a safe one'. We get both church and non-church families saying we want our children in a school with proven values and biblical values, common strong values.
Teachers tend to know all the children by name and build positive, strong relationships, he says."
Burton says some parents also like the culture of a smaller school that can accommodate children from primary through to secondary school. .
The school will be applying to the eduction minister to expand, having recently bought a larger site. I'm not naive, there are going to be huge challenges. I'm not naive, there are going to be huge challenges. We're still dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy. But after the break we're refreshed, with new people new teachers and students. So we're putting our best foot forward."
Last month Outdoor Pursuit Centre pleaded guilty to two charges laid by the Labour Department over the tragedy failing to ensure the safety of instructor Jodie Sullivan, who led the canyoning expedition, and failing to ensure her actions or inactions did not harm anyone else.
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Canyoning school rebounds
By - Sunday, 01 February 2009
Theschool recovering from the death of six students and a teacher in a canyoning accident has been inundated with applicants for the new year.
Staff at East Auckland's Elim Christian College "naively" thought the tragedy at Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuit Centre last year would discourage new enrolments.
But principal Murray Burton says his small school, with a roll of around 540, has received double the enrolment applications on previous years.
The victims were swept away by a flash flood in the Mangatepopo Gorge during a school camp in April.
"The numbers have been hugely up.
Burton, named North & South magazine's New Zealander of the Year and also recognised for his leadership by the Principals' Federation following the tragedy, says the school has always had to turn prospective students away but the number applying for the new term starting tomorrow was unprecedented. It's very hard to say no. We've had people desperate to get their children in. But there are plans to expand, Burton says."
The integrated school can accommodate a maximum of 500 domestic students and about 40 international students on its small site.
Parents trying to get their children into the school have told staff they were generally impressed with the staff and school after the accident.
"I think [people] saw the quality of some of the students and how they've coped with the tragedy and how they were interviewed in the media," he says. "We probably naively thought we might see a real drop off this year that people would think, 'Oh gosh, it's unsafe'.
"Perceptions can be very powerful," Burton says. It's swung completely the other way. Particularly of international students are concerned about safety.
"There has been a growing need for us that's taken us completely by surprise."
He says there has also been a greater demand for a school and students with sound values. Some are saying, `we're not churchgoers, but the culture is a good one, a safe one'. We get both church and non-church families saying we want our children in a school with proven values and biblical values, common strong values.
Teachers tend to know all the children by name and build positive, strong relationships, he says."
Burton says some parents also like the culture of a smaller school that can accommodate children from primary through to secondary school. .
The school will be applying to the eduction minister to expand, having recently bought a larger site. I'm not naive, there are going to be huge challenges. I'm not naive, there are going to be huge challenges. We're still dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy. But after the break we're refreshed, with new people new teachers and students. So we're putting our best foot forward."
Last month Outdoor Pursuit Centre pleaded guilty to two charges laid by the Labour Department over the tragedy failing to ensure the safety of instructor Jodie Sullivan, who led the canyoning expedition, and failing to ensure her actions or inactions did not harm anyone else.