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Police interview 140 prostitutes in Manning murder probe
By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Police have spoken to about 140 prostitutes and 40 minders in their hunt for the murderer of a Christchurch woman. .
Her body was found in the Avon River in Dallington.
Williams said police had spoken to a man they were seeking. She had been strangled, stabbed in the chest several times and beaten about the head and legs with what appeared to be a piece of reinforcing steel.
"At this stage in the investigation we still believe it is likely that Mellory has been picked up from her corner by a vehicle around 10.
He was in the area the night of Manning's murder, driving a silver Ford Focus.45pm, and the telephone inquiries definitely indicate that all is not well by 11.
"This also seems to fit with her watch stopping at 10.30pm as she failed to reply to the next set of texts that were sent to her," Williams said."
The violent attack would have caused considerable blood loss where she was attacked, in any vehicle that she was in or anything she might have been wrapped in, Williams said.58pm.
Police had still not identified the vehicle or driver of the XR6 or XR8 Ford Falcon that Manning was seen in.
He appealed for information on anyone who might have changed their behaviour since December 18, who were reluctant to use their vehicle, had suddenly sold it, cleaned or altered it, or said they had sold it.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Also of interest was a man in a blue 4WD possibly a Toyota Hilux who approached a prostitute about 10.
Men had been driving four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Manchester Street-Peterborough Street area in central Christchurch about the time Manning must have been picked up, including a dark-coloured one either black or blue with chrome wheels and tinted windows, he said.
He is described as European, slim, with grey stubble, balding at the front and greying hair at the back.35pm and asked for prices.
Williams asked that person or anyone knowing him to contact the police.
He was described as "rough-looking" and was wearing a blue jersey with holes in it.
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Police on guard for tagging verdict
Saturday, 13 December 2008
The grandfather of a South Auckland teenager fatally stabbed after tagging a garage door wiped tears from his eyes as he sat next to the dead boy's grave and said his killer had been found guilty of manslaughter.
It was not the message he had wanted to deliver to the grave of 15-year-old Pihema Cameron, who died from a single stab wound to the chest. .
Emery's lawyer, Chris Comeskey, told the court Pihema had lunged toward Emery intending to attack him, and had pushed into the knife.
The Crown alleged Emery stabbed Pihema in angry retaliation.
"We're devastated, we're not happy," said Pihema's great-aunt, Lovie Hohepa.
Following the verdict in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Pihema's grandfather, Brian Cameron, said the family had been looking for a murder conviction.
"His mother [Leanne] is very shocked, so is Pihema's father [Clifford]."
Despite their disappointment, the family managed to "keep everyone together" for the duration of the week-long trial and had not erupted over the verdict as police had anticipated.
"But we just have to accept it.
They filed into the courtroom, took their seats and waited in tense silence.
Having kept vigil outside the courtroom since the jury retired almost 24 hours earlier, the family were surprised when told the jury was about to come back with a verdict.
Justice Hugh Williams urged everyone to restrain themselves when the verdict was announced.
But the jury was kept in an adjoining room for almost 30 minutes while a van load of uniformed police could be brought to the courthouse and be placed around the courtroom and near the jury box.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
But Mrs Cameron gasped when she heard "not guilty" to murder and sobbed when she heard "guilty" to manslaughter."
Emery took a deep breath as he walked, under guard, to the courtroom but showed no emotion when the jury foreman read out the verdict.
Once the sobs subsided, she and the others donned green "RIP" T-shirts and filed out of the courtroom.
Leaving the courtroom, she walked with family to a private area, the sound of her cries still audible. They declined to comment on the verdict.
Emery's wife, sisters and other family members remained inside the courthouse till all Pihema's supporters had dispersed.
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Emery will return to court next Wednesday for a bail hearing before being sentenced on January 13
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Kiwi undaunted by Mumbai terror attack
Friday, 28 November 2008
Most people would run for the hills, but Neil Ambikar is flying into the Mumbai chaos.
The 25-year-old Wellington public servant had long planned a six-week holiday to visit his brother in India and not even terrorist attacks were going to stop him.
"Maybe I'm a little bit nervous," he said in Wellington before packing, "but I'm not the kind of guy who changes his life plans because of incidents like these.
After following news of the attacks all day yesterday, Mr Ambikar was set to board a plane to Singapore earlier today before landing in Mumbai about 8pm (NZ time).
Mr Ambikar, a New Zealand citizen who arrived here 10 years ago, said he had first thought little of the headlines because bombings were not unusual in India."
After landing in Mumbai, he plans to drive 90 minutes to the nearby city of Pune, where he spent part of his childhood and where his brother now works in IT.
"It's the largest attack I've ever felt, personally. But as more details filtered out, he was struck by the size and toll. It's the extent of it: the Taj hotel is a big landmark, Bombay's the financial capital. Maybe the largest in Bombay. However, he had many friends working in Mumbai and hoped they had been nowhere near the violence."
He had held off calling his brother because the attack happened late at night, but thought he would be safe because of Pune's distance from Mumbai.
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Plea to take it easy on tenants
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
Landlords are being urged by their national body to show more compassion as the recession starts to bite.
Property Investors' Federation president Martin Evans said the difficult economic times meant some tenants were getting into problems through no fault of their own, and landlords needed to understand that.
Department of Building and Housing figures show Tenancy Tribunal applications have increased 16 per cent in recent months, with most relating to rent arrears.
"We're seeing it across all types of tenancies having problems with rent arrears; it's not just low-income people and beneficiaries," he said.
Evans said the number of properties available to let had increased 13% in the past three weeks, creating a soft rental market where it was hard to find tenants, so it was better to work with existing ones to resolve any problems. They need to talk to them and point them in the direction of people who can help them people like the Tenants Protection Association (TPA) and Work and Income.
"A lot of it is beyond their control, with people losing their jobs, so landlords need to have some leniency."
Evans said landlords needed to contact tenants immediately if they fell behind in rent.
"This is a time when everybody has to help everyone out and be a bit more compassionate, although I'm not saying to put the rent arrears to one side.
"Landlords need to remember they will go through hard times in the next 12 months everyone will be affected," he said."
Christchurch TPA manager Helen Gatonyi urged tenants to contact landlords as soon as they got into difficulty to explain the problem.
"If they've got a good record, don't just jump on them the first time they get behind. "Then there are contacts for people where they can get help to avoid getting into difficulties.
"Our message is very simple: pay your rent first," she said."
Gatonyi said the association had had a big increase in the number of tenants approaching it for help in the past few months and it was important tenants did not leave it too late to ask for help."
Gatonyi said the association had had a big increase in the number of tenants approaching it for help in the past few months and it was important tenants did not leave it too late to ask for help.
"We're seeing what they can do and whether they can just pay some, and giving them advice about what sort of supplements they're entitled to and telling them where they can get help.
Evans, the managing director of A1 Property Managers, said the company had seen more problems than usual with tenants getting behind in rent. ."
Despite the difficulty of finding tenants, Evans advised landlords to tighten their letting criteria. Maybe they just need to drop the rent a little bit.
"But an empty property is better than bad tenants."
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UK travel tax could hit rugby cup crowds
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
A British move to increase the tax paid by airline passengers on flights to New Zealand could dampen an anticipated boost in tourist numbers during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The cup will be the biggest international sporting event to be held in New Zealand, with 60,000 to 70,000 international visitors expected to attend the matches.
However, the British Government is about to increase taxes on long-haul flights to help reduce the amount of carbon emissions from highly polluting jet aircraft.
England, Wales and Scotland are automatic qualifiers for the tournament, and organisers had expected the three teams to be accompanied by many fans.
With half of the World Cup visitors expected to come from Britain and Ireland, any possible disincentive to travel was a concern, Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said.
The duty on a flight to New Zealand will be $155 from next November, with a second increase to $240 in November 2010.
The tourism sector is worried the tax increase will hurt visitor numbers from Britain New Zealand's largest source of holidaymakers after Australia and is concerned other countries will follow Britain's move.
"It doesn't do anything to prime the market or send positive signals to the market," he said.
"We don't want to see our price competitiveness as a destination damaged," he said. . As a country, we have done a lot to try to be a responsible tourism destination.
"It seems to me they are always incentivising short-haul travel by penalising the long-haul markets."
Prime Minister John Key raised New Zealand's objections to the tax changes during his meeting in London with British PM Gordon Brown yesterday.
"We were given an award in Britain for responsible tourism.
"We just indicated we were concerned about it, we didn't think it was fair and we'd like to progress the issue further if we can," he said.
Key said he told Brown there were efficiency differences between airlines and aircraft, and some airlines, including Air New Zealand, were trialling biofuels.
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Thousands watch baretop ride
Saturday, 08 November 2008
/The
ON DISPLAY: Steve Crow and his topless troupe pose in the grounds of Parliament.
Boobs at Parliament
(nudity)
The city's leaders called it "sleazy and cynical" but about 8000 Wellingtonians turned out to see the Boobs on Bikes parade.
At its first appearance in the city yesterday, the motorcade of more than 20 topless porn stars atop Harley-Davidsons roared from Post Office Square down a crowded Lambton Quay before the stars walked on to Parliament's grounds. .
The largely male audience ranged from businessmen to gangs of wolf-whistling construction workers, mixed with curious mothers and smirking teenagers – all clicking away on their cameras in lines sometimes four-deep. Dylan, 4, sat in her arms pointing and saying, "Naked ladies, Mum.45pm."
"I'm not offended at all," Mrs McRae said. Kids don't have any preconceived ideas, it's adults who tell them it's wrong. "Women's bodies are beautiful and I don't see why children can't join in the fun."
IT specialist Chris Slade, 24, said: "It's great entertainment. It's not hurting anybody. I think it's all in good taste. No one's forced to be here."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked.
The parade was barred from Parliament's grounds because it was seen as a commercial venture, but organiser Steve Crow said it was about "freedom of expression" and vowed to reach the steps. We never get to explore this side of life in New Zealand, we're too modest," Mr Slade said. American porn star Evan Stone walked up to "admire" the Parliament building before being escorted back by three security guards.
Though the bikes were banned and a barrier kept the porn stars and their entourage a good 10 metres from the steps, they were allowed to walk up to the statue of Richard Seddon, surrounded by more than 100 shouting fans. Obviously anyone involved with the adult film industry isn't allowed to visit Parliament," he said.
"I'm a tourist. Family First spokesperson Bob McCoskrie said it was "an absolute disgrace" the parade had been allowed on Parliament's grounds.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast was unavailable for comment yesterday but a council spokesperson said she found the parade "sleazy and really cynical", with little public support."
. "Maybe the parliamentary security and police were blinded by the porn stars
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Smothering trial: Friends tell of death conversations
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Two friends of Denis Kenny Billesdon have told how he told them years later that he had smothered his elderly sister "to put her out of her misery" because he could not stand her pain.
They gave evidence at a Christchurch District Court depositions hearing where Billesdon, 71, faces a charge of murdering Nola Doreen Billesdon, 77, in February 2001. I smothered my sister.
Colin Slater, a friend for 20 years, said Billesdon told him in about 2004: "I've done a very stupid thing. I couldn't stand to see her suffer. I know I shouldn't have done it."
Mr Slater told the hearing it was sometimes hard to take what Billesdon said seriously. I had to put her out of her misery."
Christine Bamford, another friend, recalled a conversation about 2005 when he said his sister had cancer and he got a pillow and smothered her with it. "He's flamboyant, exaggerates a bit."
Billesdon's wife, Helen, told of him returning to their home on the night Miss Billesdon died, February 18, 2001.
"He said he was not a murderer but couldn't stand her pain. Denis arrived home, turned the light on and said Nola had died. ."
Helen Billesdon suggested he phone an ambulance and hurry back to his sister's house before the ambulance arrived.
"He didn't seem to be upset but he was agitated and not making decisions about what to do next.
"Although she was on a lot of medication, I didn't think she was at death's door.
She was shocked at the news of her sister-in-law's death.
He said Billesdon administered liquid morphine and sleeping tablets to the woman and then went to her room about 8pm and put a pillow over her face."
Earlier crown prosecutor Chris Lange told the court Billesdon had spent the day with his sister on February 18, 2001, and then returned to her home in the evening ready to stay the night. He dialled 111 from his home three hours later.
He then fixed things in the room to make it look as though she had died in her sleep.
Dr William Kirkwood comprehensive a long list of health problems faced by Miss Billesdon, including five hospitalisations and one emergency department visit in the two months before her death.
Miss Billesdon's death was not thought to be suspicious at first, although the doctor would not sign the death certificate because he said no ailment was bad enough to cause death.
Helen Billesdon said the couple had looked after Miss Billesdon during her health problems.
Helen Billesdon said the couple had looked after Miss Billesdon during her health problems.
She also said Billesdon had wanted the contents of his sister's will changed so that he would inherit the house and pass it on to his children. He took Miss Billesdon to a lawyer so that the changes could be made.
The hearing has made fast progress yesterday and has now adjourned to Wednesday to hear the remaining evidence before Margo McKay and Judith Smyth, Justices of the Peace.
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Prison report slated as officers suspended
– Monday, 08 September 2008
A report into allegations of corruption at Christchurch Men's Prison has been branded a whitewash after the revelation that three officers are under investigation for serious misconduct.
last week reported that an officer at the prison was on 48 hours special leave while allegations against the officer were investigated.
The investigations come less than two weeks after Corrections issued a report into the troubled Christchurch prison dismissing all but one of the 25 allegations of corruption and misconduct levelled by "Corrections Officer 1".
The officer has since been suspended and the Corrections Department has now revealed that a further two officers at the prison have been suspended and are under investigation.
He said the report had found managers were not negligent and that all was well in Bravo Unit at the prison.
Nigel Herring, the former Corrections Association local chairman, who supported the officer's allegations, said the latest suspensions showed the report was a whitewash. The report is very much a whitewash of the events and the outcome and recommendations are next to nil.
"They've deliberately avoided all the managerial issues I raised and asked them to look at.
"The department remains confident that corruption is not widespread at Christchurch Men's Prison," he said."
Corrections southern assistant regional manager Ian Bourke said he stood by the report's conclusion.
"It is possible that the officer may be cleared of any wrongdoing.
There was always "a small number of staff who let themselves and their colleagues down", Bourke said."
Bourke would not detail the allegations, but serious misconduct included a wide range of offences other than corruption including theft, violence, dishonesty, sexual harassment and inappropriate use of the department's computer system. When these types of allegations are made, immediate steps, often including suspension, are taken while the matter is fully investigated.
It said the "partaking of biscuits" by an officer with a prisoner was the only other instance of inappropriate conduct identified.
Last month's report ordered further inquiries be carried out over one alleged case of corruption for which "there is sufficient information to warrant continued inquiry".
In the report, Monk states sharing food "is an important component of staff actively building rapport and maintaining ongoing communications with prisoners".
The southern region manager, Paul Monk, defended the practice of sharing food with prisoners.
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"We would encourage staff to identify opportunities for communicating with prisoners in less formal settings and eating their respective food together is one of those opportunities," Monk said