Two a penny

.

Clayton Robert Weatherston set about killing and disfiguring Sophie Elliott “in a calm and collected manner”, the Crown said as it opened the murder case against him in the High Court at Christchurch today.

Crown prosecutor Marie Grills said 33-year-old Weatherston took the knife with him when he visited 22-year-old Miss Elliott’s Dunedin home on January 9, 2008. A pair of scissors was also found bent and bloodstained in the room.

The knife was found broken and covered in blood after the attack in which Miss Elliott was stabbed or cut 216 times.

The defence had signalled that there would be “a partial defence of provocation”, Justice Potter told the jury.

Weatherston, Miss Elliott’s former boyfriend and her lecturer at Otago University, today pleaded not guilty to her murder but said he was guilty of manslaughter when the charge was read to him on the first day of the three-week trial before Justice Judith Potter and a jury.”

Grills detailed clusters of wounds found on Elliott’s body.

Mrs Grills said: “It is the Crown case that the accused, for whatever reason, decided to kill and disfigure Sophie Elliott and he did so in a calm and collected manner, with a significant degree of premeditation. .

Her nose had been cut off in a symmetrical fashion, and chunks of her hair cut off.

The blade of a kitchen knife was found in Elliott’s bedroom, removed from its handle.

“The Crown says it is no coincidence that some of the clusters of wounds relate to areas of physical beauty,” Grills said. The Crown says Weatherston used scissors in his attack.

A bent and blood-stained pair of scissors was also found.

The blade, handle and scissors were among items passed up in evidence as the trial proceeded this morning.

The defence case includes evidence that Elliott attacked Weatherston with a pair of scissors.

Weatherston was in the room and the first police officer to arrive asked him what he had done.

Grills told of police arriving at the house seven minutes after the 111 call by Sophie Elliott’s mother who had tried to force her way into the bedroom during the attack and saw Weatherston stabbing her daughter.”

The officer formally warned him and then asked him why.

Weatherston replied in a calm, normal tone, “I killed her.”

Weatherston was found to have minor cuts on his neck and face.

Weatherston replied: “The emotional pain that she has caused me over the past year.

.

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.

–

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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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Tough choices in ‘Team of the Week’

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By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

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Rugbyheaven

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."

.
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."

.
Corrections boss won’t quit

The Friday, 20 February 2009

/The
BUSINESS AS USUAL: Corrections boss Barry Matthews will not quit.

Corrections boss Barry Matthews says he will not resign over a report criticising systemic failures in the parole system.
Mr Kuchenbecker was an innocent bystander when he was shot dead by freed killer Graeme Burton, who had skipped probation, in January 2007.
Mr Matthews spoke to The today as the State Services Commission continues an inquiry to find who is to blame for repeated mistakes in the management of paroled inmates, which were still occurring more than a year after they were beefed up following the slaying of Karl Kuchenbecker.
He said the Probation Service had been operating on a budget designed to deliver a "satisfactory" service when it was expected to be a best practice service.
Mr Matthews said he was doing the best he could with limited resources and he had "nothing to fear" for the State Services Commission inquiry.
Mr Matthews' future is in doubt after Corrections Minister Judith Collins repeatedly refused to express confidence in him following the report's release on Tuesday. .
He said he was committed to staying to improve parole management and that between November 2007 and December 2008 – eight months after the period covered by the auditor-general – compliance had increased by 60 per cent of procedures being followed in each case, to 80 per cent.
Mr Matthews said he accepted the findings of the auditor-general's report and that someone had to be accountable but that did not necessarily mean him losing his job and he would not resign.

.
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

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Children’s hospital stays put

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

MAARTEN HOLL/The
FAMILY ROOM: Anna, 21, Joshua, 13, and mum Helen Wood at Wellington Children’s Hospital. .

Plans to move Wellington Children's Hospital into an old tower block have been scrapped because patients would be worse off.
"We will not be able to provide a physical facility `significantly better than what we have now' which has always been the bottom line in any proposal to move from the current children's hospital.
In a memo from clinical director Graeme Lear and child health managers, staff were told the proposal to shift to the 30-year-old Grace Neill Block was no longer considered workable as a result of "a serious and insoluble" lack of storage and cramped rooms, which meant parents would have been unable to stay with their sick children. But Capital and Coast District Health Board was forced back to the drawing board when it was revealed the new hospital would not be big enough."
The 11-storey Grace Neill Block, being vacated by women's health and maternity services this week, was targeted for demolition with the opening of the new regional hospital.
Last April, interim chief executive Derek Milne announced plans to retain Grace Neill to house child health services, and convert the children's hospital into offices.
It depends, however, on "the availability of government funding, and this in turn depends on the ability of Capital and Coast to emerge from the financial troubles of the last few years".
The latest plan involves moving child outpatients to Grace Neill to free up space in the existing children's hospital, and bringing forward plans to build a new facility within 10 years.
The current children's hospital was built in 1988, but has struggled to accommodate services, including child cancer.
The board faces a $70 million budget blowout this year.
A board spokesperson said the change of plans would not jeopardise redevelopment of child cancer services.
It is believed a lack of progress on creating a separate unit was one factor in the resignations of the hospital's previous two child cancer specialists, which meant the hospital was unable to accept new cancer patients for 15 months.
Paediatric oncology has had its own "designated area" within the children's hospital for a year and management was working with the two paediatric oncologists to improve its layout.
Paediatric oncology has had its own "designated area" within the children's hospital for a year and management was working with the two paediatric oncologists to improve its layout. "But one thing I don't like is being so close to other kids with contagious diseases that I can catch because my immune system is not working so well.
Thirteen-year-old Joshua Wood, who has leukaemia, said he was impressed with the food and the nurses at the hospital."

.
Cocaine on sale to kids

By PIPPA O’ROURKE – Tuesday, 10 February 2009

/
FOR SALE: Cocaine energy drink is being sold on the North Shore.

A number of North Shore children can now say they’ve tried Cocaine.
The drink, imported by Wize Marketing, comes with a warning: "This message is for the people who are too stupid to recognise the obvious.
The controversial energy drink named after the class A drug is for sale in a Milford dairy, accessible to hundreds of primary and secondary students at close toby schools."
The company’s former director Geoff Percy drew criticism last June with his plans to import the drink which originally contained more than three times the legal amount of caffeine. This product does not intend to be an alternative to an illicit street drug, and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot. Cocaine originally contained 280mg in each 250ml can.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority standard for formulated caffeinated beverages sets the upper limit of caffeine at 320mg per litre, or 80mg per 250ml.
Mr Bowering says it appears to have been reformulated to meet the standards.
The safety authority’s communications manager Gary Bowering says the product on the market now has been tested and meets the requirements of the authority’s standard code.
Shakespeare Rd’s Lake View Superette manager Naresh Patel has stocked Cocaine drinks since November.
"There are a few products out there that have the same level of caffeine," he says.
The drink’s name didn’t play a part in his decision to stock it, he says. ."
But Mr Patel says he is concerned by the number of 14 and 15-year-olds choosing to buy it.
"The taste is the major selling factor over the name. But the can says anyone can drink it.
"That’s wrong.
She says she hasn’t tried Cocaine, the drink, because she thinks the name is "stupid"."
Westlake Girls High School year 13 student Bek Harwood bought a V energy drink from the superette while the was there.
"When people say they’ve tried Cocaine, I think of the drug.
Her friend Juliet Hawksworth says the name is confusing.
But the pair say they don’t think it’s irresponsible of stores to stock the drink."
Juliet says "It’s making something casual out of something that shouldn’t be taken so lightly".

.

.
Plastic chemical study prompts health alert

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Health concerns have been raised by a consumer watchdog after a full re-evaluation was ordered on research into a common plastic found in products such as baby bottles and lunch boxes.
Consumer New Zealand said the United States National Institute of Health's toxicology programme was now re-evaluating all scientific data on exposure to bisphenol A, known as BPA an industrial chemical used in products such as baby bottles, water bottles and food containers.
Although safety authorities overseas have concluded that exposure to BPA does not pose an immediate health risk, the international experts assembled by the institute found that infants and foetuses may be especially vulnerable.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand assessed the risk to infants from exposure to BPA and concluded that the levels of exposure were very low and did not pose a significant health risk.
Concerns focused around the small amounts of BPA that leach out when the product is heated, with possible effects to brain and behaviour, damage to the mammary or prostate glands and an earlier puberty in girls. .
But the New Zealand Food Safety Authority says it will await the outcomes of the research. "It wouldn't surprise me that, when the data is produced, in fact it all comes out OK, but you've got to be prepared for anything.
Action would likely include the banning or withdrawal of certain products."
Reeve said the authority would be highly likely to take immediate action "to protect the population particularly the infants" if any results showed there was a concern. It is used in baby bottles, water bottles, food containers, in the inside coating of some food tins, and beer jugs.
WHAT IS IT? Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic the type that doesn't melt when heated in a microwave or hot water, for example. Further research is still under way.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU? Initial research including some evidence from the US National Institute of Health expressed concern regarding effects on the mammary gland, prostate gland, brain and behaviour effects, and an earlier age for puberty in girls.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID IT? To check if a bottle has polycarbonate in it, look for the plastic identification code "7" or "7 PC" on the bottom.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID IT? To check if a bottle has polycarbonate in it, look for the plastic identification code "7" or "7 PC" on the bottom.