Two a penny

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Dixon jurors unmoved by insanity pleas

The Friday, 06 February 2009

Antonie Dixonbecame renowned for theatrical court appearances as jurors were asked to decide whether he was mad or bad.
His defence in his trials was that he was insane. However, two juries decided he was a hardened criminal who had to be locked up. As a child he was tied to a clothesline, could communicate only by barking, and showed paranoid behaviour over several years.
Dixon's horrendous upbringing was comprehensive in court.
During that trial, the court was told Dixon sometimes feigned symptoms in an attempt to mislead people about his mental health.
At his sentencing to life in prison, without the chance of parole for 20 years, at the end of his first trial in May 2005, he clapped his hands and called for the electric chair. At times he stared wild-eyed around the court-room and hid behind a bench in the dock.
He pulled up at a Papakura service station in the stolen car but found himself in "a biblical situation", with several "aggressive" men walking toward him.
At his second trial, Dixon told how, while on the run after slicing at the hands of Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai-style sword, he stopped to buy a cookie crumble ice-cream. "I let it go as long as I could, then just picked up the gun. One had horns and something behind his back, he said."
He killed James Te Aute by shooting him 10 times in the back within half a second. .

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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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Driver with nine convictions caught in blitz

‘Highlights the problems created by a small hard core’

By Monday, 15 December 2008

A Rotorua driver with nine previous drink driving convictions was one of 84 drivers caught with excess breath alcohol readings during in a weekend blitz by police on central North Island roads.
The driver had a blood alcohol reading of 939 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400 micrograms per litre of breath.
Police stopped 7900 drivers on roads in Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the second weekend of Operation Rose, a drink driving blitz.
"This was the 10th drink driving offence for this driver and highlights the problems created by a small hard core of recidivist [drivers] who won't change their ways, "said Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman.
The number of young people arrested in the blitz was particularly concerning, Mr Tooman said.
Police prosecuted 84 drivers who had excess breath alcohol readings.
"Once again our staff encountered a lot of young drivers behind the wheel in breach of the conditions of their graduated licences – 16 now face prosecution.
– With

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Tenant gets apology over drug-making claims

By CHARLIE GATES – Saturday, 06 December 2008

A Christchurch tenant accused by her landlords of stealing goldfish, manufacturing P and leaving no toilet paper has won an apology.
Tenant Susan Moore gained the apology from former landlords Leisa Aumua and Stephen Carrick after mediation by the Tenancy Tribunal.. . I regret any inconvenience that this scenario may have caused," the apology in the mediator's report said.. "The apology was great, but the whole process has been very frustrating and very time-consuming and cost me money to get my evidence ready," she said.
Moore said she was pleased with the apology but frustrated it had taken three months to resolve the dispute. It should never have gone to the tribunal.
"This was silly from the start. We left the house in a cleaner state than when we moved in. There was no call for it.
"I think it was clear they did not have a case against the tenants as they had clearly left the property in a very good condition and there was no sign of it being used for illegal purposes," she said."
Tenants Protection Association Christchurch manager Helen Gatonyi attended a final inspection of the property because Moore was concerned the owners would find fault.

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It was decided to withdraw the complaint and apologise because of deaths in the family and the dispute's cost, Aumua said

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Search resumes for missing Kiwis

By ADRIENNE BOURGEON – Friday, 28 November 2008

Supplied
ON BOARD: Air New Zealand engineer Noel Marsh (left), captain Brian Horrell (centre) and engineer Michael Gyles, all believed to have been killed in the crash.

AFP
RECOVERY: Rescuers recover the body of the one crew member recovered from the sea.

AFP
Rescuers at work in the recovery of the victims of the Airbus A320 crash off the coast of France.

THE AVIATION HERALD
AIRLINER DOWN: The approximate position of the crashed Air New Zealand Airbus A320 jet.

Photo 5 of 5

Radio calls before crash but ‘not a single mayday’

Air NZ crash update

Key offers support

Eerie echo of Erebus

: Air NZ boss takes questions

: Air NZ crash

Eyewitness account

Airbus A320 ‘reliable’

List of New Zealand air crashes

A huge team is now lookingfor the missing crew members of an Air New Zealand airbus that crashed off the coast of France.

HORROR SMASH: An Air New Zealand A320 – seen here in a file pic – has crashed in Southern France.
An aeroplane and a helicopter will also assist in the search.
More than 150 people are involved in the wider search and rescue group and a minesweeper has been deployed to search the ocean floor for the aircraft's black box.
Unfortunately the weather in France has deteriorated, with the wind gusting 50km/h and a heavy swell off the coast, according to the head of Civil Security at the Prefecture in Perpignan, Jean Dunyach.
Air New Zealand group general manager international Ed Sims said from Auckland tonight that five boats were on the water at daylight local time and as many as 60 divers entered the water.
Rescue staff were feeling very emotional, as it was a serious accident but they were all working together, he said.
The priority was to locate the five remaining bodies and the “black box” trapped in the wrecked aircraft, still submerged 40 meters under water, he told by telephone.
They are: Noel Marsh, a 35-year-old engineer based in Christchurch; Captain Brian Horrell, 52,of Auckland; Murray White,37, engineer, ofAuckland;Michael Gyles,49, engineer,of Christchurch; and Jeremy Cook, a Civil Aviation Authority inspector on the flight.
Earlier today officials released the names of the Kiwis presumed dead after the crash.45am (NZ time) today.
Seven people – including two German pilots – were onboard the Air New Zealand Airbus A320 when it crashed into the Mediterranean, just off Perpignan in southeast France, about 4.
An aviation enthusiast said on a website that the Airbus didn't send out a mayday before the crash, but that a close toby airplane reported the plane crashing as it plunged into the ocean. It had beenon a test flight – involving several manoeuvres – ahead of a return to New Zealand. All seven crew were presumed dead. .
"The CAA will continue to provide Jeremy's wife, family and friends with support now and in the future.
In a statement released this evening,the acting Director of Civil Aviation, Graeme Harris, said allauthority staff members were shocked and saddened by the accident.
"Jeremy is a popular engineer, respected and liked by all in the aviation industry. The CAA extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends to all those missing in this accident."
Mr Cookjoined the Civil Aviation Authority as an Airworthiness Inspector in April 2005."
Mr Cookjoined the Civil Aviation Authority as an Airworthiness Inspector in April 2005. A Licensed Maintenance Engineer with an extensive background in aircraft maintenance, his career included time with Air Niugini in Papua New Guinea, Ansett New Zealand, and with the Christchurch Engine Centre.
Earlier in the day,a choked up Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfetold a press conference this afternoon thathe had spoken to the partners of each of the missing men.
"This is an unbelievably difficult time for the families of those who are missing. I conveyed to them my deepest sympathies and those of all Air New Zealanders as we await further information on their loved ones.
"I was also able to reassure them that Air New Zealand is receiving the full support of the New Zealand Government and the Search and Rescue authorities in France and we are confident that everything is being done to locate those still missing."
While Air New Zealand still held out hope for survivors, rescuers had told them they had grave concerns for those on board, he said.
"It's very difficult for them as they wait for information on their loved ones. My heart goes out to them. They're dealing with the situation with amazing dignity and strength," Mr Fyfe said.
He said Air New Zealand would spare no expense in supporting the families.
Fyfe, who said today was the toughest of his career,will travel to France later today with the family of at least one of the Kiwi victims. Other families are considering their options.
The deputy chief investigator of the Transport Air Investigation Commission, Ken Mathews, will head to the crash site to support the French investigation. Two officials from the NZ Embassy in Paris are also en route.
The airline has asked the media to respect the families' privacy and a security guard has been placed outside the Gyles' home in the Christchurch hill suburb of Cashmere.
CRASH WITNESS
The plane was seen flying low over the French Mediterranean shortly before the crash. It had taken off from Perpignan Airport and had reportedly carried out a touch-and-go landing beforeheading for Frankfurt, Germany, when it plunged into the sea.
Lydie Benedicte, who works on the information desk at Perpignan Airport, told ABC radio that the plane had dipped down into the sea very quickly.
"The aircraft crashed direct,'' she told the station. "It's not far from the airport. That's why the aircraft was not very high in the sky … that's why a lot of people saw the crash close to the coast of Cannes.''
Better weather is forecast for Friday (French time), and although some searchers were quite shocked by what had happened they were only too happy to lend assistance, Dunyach said.
"There was no explosion, it was flying (at) 300m and suddenly fell down into the sea, but no explosion."
There were many witnesses, and emergency services were quickly at the scene.
Some wreckage was floating on the surface, but the pieces were "very difficult to find as a result of the big waves and the dark".
SOMBRE MOOD
The mood at Air New Zealand and CAA headquarters in Wellington was sombre today, as staff waited for news from France.
The aircraft was owned by Air New Zealand and had been on lease to German charter company XL Airways for the past two years. It was four years old when delivered and had flown for Freedom Air for about a year before being leased.
Fyfe said it was being flown to Frankfurt, where it was due to be handed back for a ferry flight to New Zealand this week.
"Naturally, this is an extremely difficult time for us all and the full resources of the airline are being put into investigating what may have happened and providing support to our people and their families," he said.
Fyfe said Air New Zealand was drawing on the experiences of other airlines that had been in similar situations before.
The Air New Zealand pilot on the flight was a very experienced captain, "which is typically what we want when we are going through one of these acceptance processes. We have our most experienced people ensuring the aircraft is up to Air New Zealand standards".
Several staff were waiting in Frankfurt, Germany, to take over the aircraft on its flight back to New Zealand.
The crash comes 29 years to the day that an Air New Zealand DC10 crashed into Mt Erebus, killing all 257 passengers and crew.
Mr Fyfe said that today was already very poignant for Air New Zealand as a result of the Erebus tragedy, and the anniversary added a new dimension to the tragedy.
AIRBUS
The jet had been undergoing servicing at EAS Industries in Perpignan and flying circuits for 90 minutes before it crashed, an emergency services spokesman said.
Six French aviation accident investigators and two from Germany were being sent to help an inquiry with experts from the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) and Airbus.
Airbus said it delivered the jet in July 2005 and it had carried out 2800 flights with about 7000 hours of use since then. The constructor gave no details of the accident.
There are about 3700 A320 jets in service with almost 3000 more to be delivered. Air New Zealand own two Airbus aircraft, and lease 10.
Their average age is four years, and they seat about 150 passengers.
– With staff reporters, and agencies