Two a penny

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A Marton man has admitted robbing two Manawatu banks while dressed as a woman, complete with high heels.

Unemployed man James Shevan Cassidy, 34, appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, determined to plead guilty without seeking legal advice.

“I would like the matter dealt with in your court .

But it was only after Judge Les Atkins ordered Cassidy to see the court’s duty solicitor that his pleas to the indictable charges were entered… “I am aware of my actions . I plead guilty,” he told Judge Atkins…”

Cassidy admitted robbing $4300 from Feilding’s Kiwibank, inside the Take Note bookshop, on June 29. I am holding myself accountable and I would like this matter dealt with. .

He also admitted robbing $835 from the Kiwibank inside the Terrace End Post Office on July 9.

“When you do see them, they stick out.

A woman employee from a neighbouring shop, who did not want to be named, told the she saw the man moments before the robbery while she was on a break.

A Robert Harris employee said she saw the high-heeled robber run past the cafe, next to Take Note, after the robbery. I’ve never seen him around before,” she said.

Cassidy was remanded in custody until sentencing on September 9.

It was quite odd, a “woman” running so fast, she said.

.

LATEST:
The wife of a New Zealander murdered in Jamaican capital Kingston frantically searched for him after hearing gunshots, a fellow guest says.

Tiki Stardust Steel Hunia, a 27-year-old Hong Kong-based IT consultant and English teacher, was shot during a robbery attempt on Tuesday night. He was with his wife, Nickie-Jean.

The pair were sitting in the outdoor area of their guest house in the suburb of St Andrew, in Kingston. .

One then put the gun to her partner’s stomach and demanded money, while the other snatched Mrs Hunia’s cellphone and hit her when she protested, the woman told the New Zealand Herald.

An American woman who was also outside when the incident happened said two gun-wielding men entered the property, yelling and asking for “Angelo”.

“He (Mr Hunia) got upset because he wanted to protect her so he jumped on the person and they just fell into the bushes in the garden and started to fight,” she said. So I ran.

“At that point I just said, ‘Okay, I have to get out of here’.

“We were hiding in the room for a few minutes and then we walked out and his wife was frantically running around and looking for her husband. While I was running I heard shooting so I told the receptionist to call the police and then I went to hide myself.

She and three others helped carry him to a police car and he was taken to hospital but later died.”

They found Mr Hunia lying on gravel, wounded but breathing, behind a cottage, she told the newspaper.

Gloria said Mr Hunia’s wife thought he was ok – the gunshot had gone in through his arm – but it had actually gone into the side of his chest and had pierced his lung.

Gloria said Mr Hunia’s wife thought he was ok – the gunshot had gone in through his arm – but it had actually gone into the side of his chest and had pierced his lung.

Gloria said that when she answered he had asked to speak with his grandmother who began wailing after the news was delivered but couldn’t tell Gloria what it was.

Gloria told Radio New Zealand that another of her sons had rang her mother’s house where she was staying to pass on the bad news.

Ms Hunia’s mother then told her what had happened: “It’s Tiki – he’s dead.

“I decided to grab the phone and ring my son back to see what the hell he told his grandmother,” she told the radio station.”

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Wellington is seeing more people hospitalised with swine flu than Australia’s swine flu capital Victoria, with around 30 people currently admitted to its hospitals.

Victoria, with a population of about five million had 18 patients in hospital last Friday, compared with Wellington’s present number of almost 30 from a population of around 400,000.”It’s obviously been a brutal winter and the numbers here are going up very quickly but that’s probably not surprising,” he said. However, Wellington microbiologist Dr Tim Blackmore said the timing of the spike in infections, with New Zealand successfully containing the virus for almost two months, could be making the figures appear worse than they were. What the long term picture might be we don’t know yet but certainly at the moment there’s a lot of new cases emerging in the community and proportionally we’re seeing quite a few in the hospital.”If it was starting to slow down in Victoria then our numbers of patients on a particular day, compared to Victoria may be out of step.

However, accurate records of confirmed cases are no longer kept and the total number is likely to be much higher.”While instances of swine flu in New Zealand continue to increase, statistics show more that there have been 4,300 cases and nine deaths reported in Australia compared to 825 cases and no deaths here.”

“The hospital services are starting to struggle.Mr Blackmore told AAP that this was the “tip of the iceberg and it’s looking moderately severe to us.”

Sixty-nine people have been hospitalised in the Wellington region. We’ve never seen admission rates like this before and unfortunately it’s only going to get worse.He added that the majority of people were only in hospital for a day or two and asthma was playing a significant role in hospitalisations. Mr Blackmore said they were now only testing those who were believed to be in a more serious position..”There’s a proportion of people who are coming in with primary influenza pneumonia – viral pneumonia – but most have asthma or something like that underneath it . to make doctors more concerned about their health to have them in hospital..While it was difficult to know exactly how many people had been admitted in total, “it’s obviously something that we’re going to look at more carefully.”He said the average age of people being admitted was early-20s and there were “quite a few” children. A woman in her early twenties is still in a critical condition in Hawke’s Bay Hospital though it is not known whether she had any pre-existing medical conditions.”The condition of the 30-year-old woman in intensive care in Wellington Hospital was today down-graded from life-threatening to serious.”Once the virus established in Australia and as a result of the links New Zealand has with Australia .National Influenza Centre head Dr Sue Huang said that New Zealand’s links with Australia, which sent more than one million visitors here last year, had made containing the virus more difficult… it became really difficult to contain.”Meanwhile, swine flu is taking over from seasonal flu as the most commonly diagnosed influenza in the more serious cases this year.Mr Blackmore said of the 294 positive influenza tests carried out in Wellington since June 23, only 25 were seasonal influenza and the rest were the new strain.Since then, the lowest number of swine flu cases diagnosed in Wellington daily was ten and the highest was 37.However, he said the ratio was about even in Auckland, with Christchurch “somewhere in the middle”"The interesting thing about influenza is it does different patterns in different communities. .Mr Blackmore said he believed the number of infections could peak in a “few weeks” before easing, though the level of preparedness on behalf of health authorities meant they were well placed to cope.”I think overall for New Zealand it’s going to go on for a long time,” he warned.Ms Huang said they processed more than 1000 samples from suspected cases last week, which confirmed that swine flu was becoming more prevalent than other influenzas.She said all tests for Tamiflu resistance and virus mutations had so far come back negative.

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The body of Michael Jackson has been released to his family, a Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman said after an autopsy failed to immediately determine what killed the troubled pop star.

Members of Jackson’s family were said to be gathering at his parents home in suburban Los Angeles to make final arrangements for the “King of Pop,” whose sudden death on Thursday dominated worldwide headlines and touched off two days of tributes from fans.

No funeral or public memorial plans have been disclosed and ABC News reported that the family might seek a second, independent autopsy on the remains.

Speculation has centred on Jackson’s use of prescription drugs and reports that he was injected with the narcotic painkiller Demerol shortly before collapsing at his rented mansion in a Holmby Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Coroner’s officials have said that with no outward signs of trauma to Jackson’s body or evidence of foul play, they would have to wait for the results of toxicology tests and other studies to establish a cause of death. Conrad Murray, trying desperately to revive him.

The 50-year-old entertainer was in full cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived, with his personal physician, identified as Dr.

Police towed Murray’s silver Mercedes from the driveway of the home where Jackson died, saying they wanted to search it for evidence and medication, and have sought to further interview the 51-year-old, Houston-based cardiologist.

The Rev. .

“When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what?” he said in an interview with the network. Jesse Jackson, who has been acting as a spokesman for the singer’s family, told ABC News that they also had questions for Murray. Was he injected once? Was he injected twice?”

The celebrity website TMZ.

“Was he on the scene twice? Before and then reaction to? Did he use Demerol? It’s a very powerful drug.com reported that police were also interested in speaking with another Jackson adviser, Tohme Tohme, about the superstar’s use of prescription medication.com reported that police were also interested in speaking with another Jackson adviser, Tohme Tohme, about the superstar’s use of prescription medication.

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There are now 109 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand with 23 of them coming in the last 24 hours.

Of the 23 latest cases, seven cases are in Auckland, three in Wellington and 13 in Christchurch.

The Ministry of Health said that while the number of cases was increasing, there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission.

Are you having a swine flu party or do you know of anyone deliberately exposing themselves or their children to swine flu? Email or phone 04-4740098.

SWINE FLU PARTIES

Meanwhile the Health Ministry has warned against hosting “swine flu parties” following overseas concerns parents are deliberately exposing children.

The public interest in swine flu had been significant with 1500 calls answered at Healthline yesterday, almost double the usual amount. That person contracted swine flu after visiting Victoria, Australia in early June.

The Canterbury District Health Board said all cases of the influenza A (H1N1) strain stemmed from a single case.

The trend has prompted the Australian government to warn against swine flu parties gatherings where people intentionally expose themselves to the flu, in order to become infected with the virus.

Meanwhile, media reports in Australia and the United States say some parents have intentionally exposed their children to swine flu, believing that infecting them now will save them from a potentially more virulent strain in the future.

New Zealand’s deputy director of public health Dr Fran McGrath said the tactic went completely against the Health Ministry’s efforts to contain the virus. The idea has also been panned by health experts here.

She said that if people deliberately made themselves ill this would have a huge impact on already-stretched health services.

“The reason we’re doing [containment] is because this is a brand new virus to which people don’t have immunity so there will be lots of people who get it,” she said.. “.swine flu parties are definitely not part of our public health advice..

“We don’t know what the nature of the mutation would be.”

There was also no guarantee that getting sick now would lead to immunity in the future.”"It may give you some [immunity] but we can’t be sure about that. If there were to be a second wave then it would be as a result of a mutation in the virus and you can’t tell how big that mutation might be and therefore how useful any immunity from an earlier version would be.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in United States, people hope to become affected from the mild form of the virus, in the hope of having natural immunity to a more virulent form that might circulate later.”

The concept appears to have stemmed from chickenpox parties where parents would deliberately infect their children in the knowledge the virus was less serious in children than adults. I understand the thinking, but I just fear we don’t know enough about how this virus would react in every individual. I understand the thinking, but I just fear we don’t know enough about how this virus would react in every individual.

“This is like the Middle Ages, when people deliberately infected themselves with smallpox. It’s vigilante vaccination you know, taking immunity into your own hands. .

All cases stemmed from a single person who had been in Victoria, Australia in early June and contracted swine flu.

All those affected were being treated with Tamiflu and recent contacts were being traced.

The cases included six pupils from three schools in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs, and a Minister in a Samoan Church who worked at Christchurch Hospital in the catering team.

A Christchurch seafood processing plant has also sent home all its factory staff after a second case of swine flu was discovered there.

Sea Products in Woolston sent home night shift workers yesterday after one staff member caught swine flu, but now the day shift has also been quarantined for three days with antiviral drug Tamiflu after a second case was confirmed.

The 100 workers will all be back to work by Friday.

“The catering team member had not been to work during the infectious stage of the illness,” Canterbury medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey said.

Swine flu was a highly contagious disease, he said.

“Once someone who is infected is amongst other members of the community, including students and workmates, it is inevitable others will get sick,” he said.

While most people do not become seriously unwell, the virus’ potential effect on businesses, schools and the community was starting to show itself, Mr Humphrey said. In East Auckland primary school St Patrick’s, in Panmure, yesterday sent all of its 145 pupils home for a week after having one confirmed case of swine flu, and a number of others suffering flu-like symptoms.

Bromley School in Christchurch has been closed for seven days by health officials to prevent the spread of swine flu.

A recorded message on the school’s phone said all families would be contacted by the weekend with further information.

“Huge apologies for the disruption to family life,” the message said.

The primary school has 320 pupils.

Other Auckland schools were also hit.

At Kowhai Intermediate, in central city Kingsland, one class of year eight students and a teacher were in quarantine.

Papatoetoe High School in South Auckland has one swine flu case, while on the North Shore at Westlake Girls’ High School some 450 year 12 students are away for a week, after one case.

Health Ministry planning was to enable health services to manage large numbers of cases as well as maintain services for those who most need them, Dr McGrath said.

“An important part of this approach will include advising individuals how to look after themselves at home where this is possible – in the same way they would with seasonal flu.”

Swine flu may be serious for some people and they should seek advice either from Healthline 0800 611 116 or their GP – but phone ahead first.

The new confirmed cases yesterday were in Auckland (two), Rotorua (one), Tauranga (two), Wellington (five) and Christchurch (five).

STOP THE SPREAD

The ministry has refined advice to arriving international travellers – only people with flu-like symptoms within four days of travel were now considered to be at risk of swine flu.

Workers should stay home only if they have flu-like symptoms or if they have had medical advice, the ministry said.

They should stay home for seven days after symptoms begin, or until symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

This was to keep them from infecting others.

Hand hygiene was still the most effective protection – wash hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly, the ministry advised.

Alcohol-based cleaners were also effective, and people should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, as germs spread this way.

The Ministry of Health has moved its response to phase 6.2 which means restrictions could be placed on public gatherings and a state of emergency could be declared. It is the last phase before code red.

– , with

Young Aussie skiers pose swine flu concern

– World Homepage -

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A teenager found dead in his bed yesterday morning died from a head injury, police say.

Family members found Waylin Te Rau Aroha Ngarangione, 19, dead at his family home in Manutuke, 13km southwest of Gisborne, about 9am yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott of Gisborne CIB said. .

“The scene is currently being examined by both the police and the forensic scientists and inquiries are continuing as to how the fatal injury occurred,” Mr Scott said.

A homicide inquiry had been launched as a result.

–

– Next Crime story: –
Thai tiler ‘lied to NZ lawyer to cover for Field’

– National Homepage –

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Earlier today, Mr Scott said Mr Ngarangione’s family was “obviously very upset, as you would be when anyone loses a loved one or a family member”

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National’s senior whip Nathan Guy has been appointed as Internal Affairs Minister to replace Richard Worth, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Mr Guy will be a minister outside Cabinet and take up Dr Worth’s portfolios of Archives NZ, National Library and associate justice minister.

Maurice Williamson, who temporarily looked after Dr Worth’s portfolios after he lost his ministerial positions, will retain Land Information. .

He was junior whip from November 2006 and has been senior whip since February last year.

Mr Guy is the MP for Otaki and first entered Parliament in 2005.

“He has proven himself to be an able senior whip and member of the National Party caucus,” Mr Key said.

Mr Key said he looked forward to welcoming Mr Guy to the executive.

“I was rapt to receive a phone call from the prime minister offering me the opportunity to become a minister outside Cabinet, which of course I accepted.

Mr Guy said the appointment was a huge honour.

The transport role is a new position and as a local MP he has come out strongly in favour of the Transmission Gully motorway route between Wellington and the Kapiti Coast.”

Mr Guy said he was looking forward to the internal affairs role and other associate jobs, though he did know his delegations yet.

The Wellington to Otaki road is one of the designated routes, but the Transmission Gully motorway is not defined as a solution to the region’s traffic congestion.

Mr Guy said he believed the transport appointment was a sign that the portfolio was a large one and Mr Key wanted to make progress on the designated routes of national significance. .

“There is a lot at stake for the Otaki electorate. but it is just one area around the country. .

A second allegation was also made against Dr Worth by a member of the Labour Party.”

Mr Guy gained the jobs after Dr Worth resigned as an MP late on Friday after earlier being asked to resign as a minister when it emerged that he was under police investigation over allegations of a sexual nature involving a Korean business woman.

In a public statement she also said Dr Worth offered her jobs in his ministerial capacity.

The woman involved, Neelam Choudary, alleged that between November and February, Dr Worth sent dozens of text messages, some sexually explicit, and called her numerous times.

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Sharing his joy with mum

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Tough choices in ‘Team of the Week’

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By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

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Last updated 09:51 30/03/2009
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Ma’a Nonu in action against the Lions.

The Highlanders celebrate Matt Berquist’s try against the Bulls.

Todd Clever scores for the Lions against the Hurricanes.

Jamie Mackintosh is tackled just short of the line.

Jamie Mackintosh is tackled just short of the line. .

Keven Mealamu tackles hard against the Waratahs.

Ali Williams tries to tackle Luke Burgess.

A dejected Blues captain Keven Mealamu and coach Pat Lam.

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– Successful stretch for NZ S14 teams –

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S14 teams for week five

Our Super 14 team of week

Bulls’ stars likely to play Crusaders

Frustration with some Super 14 refereeing

Our team of the week

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There is no lack of contenders for the latest New Zealand team of the week after a solid weekend’s work from the Kiwi franchises in round seven.

The Blues were the only side to lose as a bit of New Zealand presence came to the points table.

The Crusaders showed true grit in edging the Stormers. But in times when the finger is being pointed at the Super 14 as being a dull affair in 2009, we are going for some flamboyance in our latest side and there was no lack of that in the way the Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes won their matches to dominate our star XV.

Fullback is a toss-up between emerging Highlander Israel Dagg and Chiefs veteran Mils Muliaina.

Dagg backed up last week’s double with a late try in the stunning upset of the Bulls in Palmerston North. He runs the ball back strongly and his kicking game is on song. This young man is examining more and more comfortable in his surroundings.

But no one can underestimate Muliaina’s contribution to this remarkable turnaround by the Chiefs. He scored two tries himself in the big win over the Reds in Brisbane and organised the Chiefs’ attack from the back to get our nod.

His efforts certainly helped those around him. That’s why Sitiveni Sivivatu gets the left wing jersey. He was only on for just over 10 minutes. But he scored twice and should have had another but for an officiating balls-up. The guy is in magic form and now it’s only a shoulder injury that is holding him back.

There wasn’t much to celebrate in the Blues’ loss to the Tahs but we loved the effort of Anthony Tuitavake on the right wing. He scored a magical try. After spending much of the season at centre, he looked good value with a bit of space out wide and that finishing flourish earns him the No 14 slot.

Centre is a tough call this week with internationals Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui building form nicely as is Highlanders No 13 Jason Shoemark.

The Hurricanes got themselves into a heck of a battle with the Lions on the high veldt and Smith’s early double strike certainly set up this win. Take a bow Conrad.

Ma’a Nonu did the business alongside Smith as this pairing show the value of their long association. It’s enough for Nonu to edge worthy efforts from Daniel Bowden (Highlanders) and Callum Bruce who has been a quiet achiever in the star-studded Chiefs backline.

There’s a similar tight tussle at 10 where Steve Donald (Chiefs), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes) and Matt Berquist (Highlanders) directed their teams to crucial wins.

It’s hard to go past Donald though. The Chiefs backline has been outrageous over the last two weekends. Donald got things humming in Brisbane with a stunning solo try to open the floodgates. His goalkicking and field kicking were spot-on too.

The All Blacks selectors have got a job on their hands at halfback now that Brendon Leonard is firing up. He’s a ball of energy and his bullet pass has freed the Chiefs backline. But is there a more gritty character than Jimmy Cowan? He sparked the improving Highlanders’ attack with several strong runs and was there at the end to snuff out some dangerous revivals from the Bulls.

Sione Lauaki holds on to the No 8 jersey again with another barnstorming effort although Rodney So’oialo’s work rate in difficult circumstances in Johannesburg didn’t go unnoticed.

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The loose forwards, as usual, are a competitive area.

The super-consistent Adam Thomson (Highlanders) heads off Liam Messam (Chiefs) and Kieran Read (Crusaders) for our blindside role and Karl Lowe stepped up when he was needed for the Canes at No 7 in the absence of All Black Scott Waldrom.

Hayden Triggs (Highlanders) got geed up by his emotional homecoming in Palmerston North to produce arguably his biggest Super 14 effort. But in a close tussle he got edged by his team mate Tom Donnelly for one of our locking spots. The other goes to Brad Thorn (Crusaders) who was at the heart of the Crusaders’ haggle with the Stormers.

Clint Newland stood up to the test of the biggest pack in the championship at tighthead for the Highlanders and Jamie Mackintosh’s return to full action alongside him was highly energetic against the Bulls.

The same can be said of Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles who got through a ton of work in Jo’burg to shadow All Blacks Keven Mealamu, the Blues’ skipper and new Super rugby centurion, and Hika Elliott who made the most of a rare start for the Chiefs.

Here’s our team of the week for round 7 of the Super 14:

15 Mils Muliaina (Chiefs), 14 Anthony Tuitavake (Blues), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 9 Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), 8 Sione Lauaki (Chiefs), 7 Karl Lowe (Hurricanes), 6 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 5 Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 Clint Newland (Highlanders), 2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Who do you think is missing from this team or have we got it right? below.

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All Black reveals heartache over son

By DAVID LONG – Sunday, 22 February 2009

ALL Blacks star Mils Muliaina has spoken of the emotional turmoil he and wife Hayley went through when their son was born with a hole in his heart.
Mils had stayed in Auckland for the birth of his first child, Max, in November when the rest of the national rugby team left for a four-test tour of the UK and Ireland plus a Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong.
But medical staff planning corrective surgery on Max's heart told Mils he would have time to take part in the tests before the operation.
The 68-test hero a vital member of the touring side immediately put plans to join his teammates on hold when he was told of the youngster's condition.
"If he needed to go in for an emergency operation they would need to get him stable for two to five days beforehand, so that would have given me plenty of time to come back from playing for the All Blacks.
"We had a talk with the doctors and the biggest thing was that he wasn't going to deteriorate overnight," Mils told . The All Blacks jersey is so precious and you don't ever want let it down or miss out on going on a tour.
"It's a pretty hard thing. .
"The defining moment was the doctor saying he wasn't going to deteriorate overnight and rather than me waiting and worrying about him I should go over (to Europe)."
Max had open-heart surgery at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital over the Christmas holidays. She thought it was best that I go over and play for the All Blacks and then come back and we'll have the operation.
Mils and Hayley were recently given the all-clear over Max's health and the star fullback can now relax enough to reflect on the last few months. Doctors placed a piece of felt over the hole, which his heart will eventually grow over. I came back from the tour and we were in the ward at Starship over Christmas and he had his operation," Mils said.
"It was pretty tough. I look back now and I just can't believe how close it was back then how I felt and how hard it was.
"We were very fortunate. He had a check-up a couple of weeks ago and he's humming.
"Now he's a bubbly little kid and everything's so rosy.
"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make to go on that tour. He's done really well and we're pretty stoked about that."
Mils says becoming a dad has been a life-changing experience for him. We came away with the Grand Slam again and hopefully, when Max is older, he'll look back at that tour and have something to be proud of his dad for going on. It's great for me," he said, beaming. It's great for me," he said, beaming.
"I really get excited about going home, seeing the little fella there. It puts a different perspective on life and makes you grow up a lot quicker."

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Massive quake at Kermadecs

– Thursday, 19 February 2009

A powerful 7. .53am at a depth of 36km, the USGS said on its website.
The quake, located 304km northeast of Raoul Island in the Kermadec Island chain, struck at 10.
Conservation Department spokeswoman Louise Skelton said it had five workers and four volunteers on the island.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake posed no destructive tsunami threat, but cautioned that earthquakes of this size sometimes generate destructive waves within 100 km of the epicentre.
Further updates on their situation were expected this afternoon.
Communications with the island were patchy, but it was believed the workers had managed to get a message through this morning and all were "fine", she said.
Ms Skelton said the chances of another eruption were slim, as they were not normally linked to seismic activity.
Conservation worker Mark Kearney, 33, was killed in a volcanic eruption on the island in 2006, while collecting lake level and temperature data for volcanic monitoring following an increase in seismic activity.
– with