Two a penny

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An Auckland man murdered his friend with a high-powered rifle after the victim went “crazy” at a dinner party being held at the accused’s rural home, a High Court jury has heard.

The Crown alleges that Alan Christopher Paul Gundry, 30, killed Orewa man Gene Patrick Atkins, 28, on January 12 this year. .Gundry – who has been on bail until the start of today’s trial – appeared in the dock dressed neatly in a black suit and red tie. The accused had shot the unarmed Mr Atkins twice with his high-powered hunting rifle at close range, Mr Glubb said. Mr Glubb told the court that Mr Atkins and the accused had been friends for many years and on the afternoon of the murder had been enjoying the summer weather on Gundry’s back deck with their partners and other friends.He denies murdering Mr Atkins. Mr Atkins had become drunk and violent and after having an argument with his partner, Sarah Dean, and then went home, the court was told.Ms Dean had discovered the mess and packed her things and returned to the Gundry’s Rodney home to stay the night. Once home he had thrown Ms Dean’s belongings outside the house and broken several objects. He strode through the house and started brawling with several people, demanding to know where his partner, Ms Dean, was hiding.Minutes later Mr Atkins arrived at the Gundry house, furious and violent, Mr Glubb said. An enraged Mr Atkins had gone into Gundry’s five-year-old daughter’s room and pushed and threatened his partner.Ms Dean had locked herself in the bathroom, Mr Glubb said. Several attempts by friends to calm Mr Atkins had failed, the court heard. Several attempts by friends to calm Mr Atkins had failed, the court heard. Gundry replied: “I can’t do that, he’s threatening my kids and my family”.Mr Atkins’ partner, Ms Dean, had asked Gundry only to “scare” her partner with the rifle, Mr Glubb said.He died almost instantly.The Crown alleges Gundry came across Atkins on the stairwell and shot him twice. Gundry then called police, telling them: “his friend was drunk, he had gone crazy and he had shot him”, the court heard. Gundry had then apologised to Ms Dean for shooting Mr Atkins, Mr Glubb said.Self-defence was a complete defence to the charge of murder, the court heard. Defence lawyer Graeme Newell said his client had been acting in the self-defence and this would be the key focus of the trial.Around 35 friends and family of Gundry and Mr Atkins filled the courtroom’s public gallery. Mr Newell said he would also be exploring Mr Atkins history and other “aggressive incidents” he had been involved with prior to his death. The trial is expected to last for a week. The trial is expected to last for a week.

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One of the country’s largest high schools has banned school balls after parents organised a booze-fuelled after-function for over a hundred students earlier this month.

Rangitoto College principal David Hodge said students and parents had “deceived the school” by bussing 150 students to an after-ball party on August 13.

The party – organised by parents and students – had boasted an “open bar” and “dubious supervision at best”, Mr Hodge told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Hodge said while he thought balls were “fantastic”, Rangitoto College was not prepared to put them on without strict guidelines.

The function, which was held at a disused warehouse in Onehunga, had also gone directly against strict instructions issued to students and parents forbidding any gathering after the annual Year 12 ball. The ball should be an alcohol-free event and it should not be the precursor to a large-scale after-ball party over which there is very limited control. “We set some quite clear conditions around that.”

The school had made their stance clear to both students and parents, saying “run an after-ball [party] and we will cancel future balls,” Mr Hodge said.

“I would have thought that giving alcohol to 16-year-olds was illegal.

The principal said he had advised police of what he thought was occuring at the after-ball party but was unsure if they had taken any action. .”

The school’s board of trustees had subsequently agreed to cancel next year’s Year 12 and 13 balls, but had not ruled them out indefinitely

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A secret British police report into whether riot police were involved in the death of New Zealander Blair Peach will be made public within months.

Mr Peach, 33, was allegedly killed by a still-unidentified police officer while demonstrating against the far right National Front in Southall, West London in 1979. The full findings of his report have never been disclosed and the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that no charges should be brought.The death was investigated by Commander John Cass, whose report was thought to have named officers as suspects.A senior police officer has been put in charge of contacting those involved in the incident to warn them of the imminent publication, and to ask them whether any of its contents should be redacted.Legal advisers to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson have indicated he is obliged to publish the report under Britain’s Freedom of Information laws, which could happen before the end of the year, Britain’s Sky News reported.Mr Peach’s brother Roy Peach told Radio New Zealand that even if the report was published in its entirety, the family would never know exactly what happened. .

.He was allowed access to a part of the report a few years ago but said the family would never be sure of its accuracy because of allegations between police officers

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A man arrested over the death of a Wellington man had his charge upgraded from assault to murder today.

The man, 43, was granted name suppression in Wellington District Court while a psychological assessment was carried out.

The killing happened on Tuesday at a halfway house, in suburban Newtown, which accommodates people suffering from mental illness or involved in drug rehabilitation.

The victim has been identified as Kelly Whakaneho, a 37-year-old Wellington man. .

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Whakaneho died of multiple stab woulds.

Detective Inspector Paul Basham said the investigation into Mr Whakaneho’s death was going well and a detailed scene investigation had been completed.

The accused man, who was remanded in custody, will re-appear for a pre-commital hearing on September 4.

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Investigators had spoken with several possible witnesses, he said

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A British man living in New Zealand for the past five years has died in the overnight sinking of Tongan ferry Princess Ashika.

The dead man is understood to be Daniel Macmillan.

Mr Macmillan was travelling on a British passport, but had a New Zealand driver’s licence. He has reportedly lived in New Zealand for the past five to six years. .

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Forty people, many of them women and children, are missing and feared dead after the sinking of the inter-island ferry, which was heading from Nuku’alofa to Ha’afeva, in the Nomuka Islands group.

It is understood Mr Macmillan’s relatives live in a remote part of Scotland.

A British High Commission spokesperson in Wellington said the man’s UK family was in the process of being informed.

Mike Roberts, of New Zealand’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ), said tonight that of the 86 suspected people on board the ferry, 53 had been picked up safe and well.

The British man was among six foreigners on the ship, including Japanese, German and French nationals. The Shipping Corporation’s figure was 96 with 55 rescued.

However, reports of the number of people on board varied and it was possible more than 100 were on the Princess Ashika when she sank.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion will resume searching the area tomorrow morning.

”Tongan police are working to establish exactly who is still missing and liaising with next of kin,” Mr Roberts said.

MFAT had had no calls from anyone about other New Zealanders, Mr McCully said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully told reporters in Cairns the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) was liaising with British authorities about repatriating the British man’s body.

”Prime Minister (John) Key has taken the opportunity earlier today of conveying the condolences of the New Zealand people to the Tongan Prime Minister, who is obviously here at the forum.

”It’s obviously a terrible tragedy,” he said.

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The sinking was doubly tragic for the Pacific region as it followed last month’s ferry sinking in Kiribati, which left 33 people dead, Mr McCully said

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A senior immigration official rejects claims by British newspapers that New Zealand authorities are effectively sending home immigrant workers to save jobs for their own citizens.

“Claims of an anti-migrant job crisis in New Zealand are not supported by the facts,” Immigration New Zealand’s service delivery group manager Steve Cantlon said.”One can only feel sympathy for the plight of families who have had to return home as a result of the changing labour market .”The change in their economic circumstances is to be regretted, but it is not the result of an anti-immigrant jobs policy.”However, temporary workers have always known that there was no certainty that their permits would be extended or that they would be able to progress on to permanent residence.British expatriates “face losing their jobs and being kicked out of the country” as a result of the credit crunch and what is said to be a major shift in policy by the New Zealand government, the Daily Mail newspaper reported in London. .”The dreams of hundreds who left for a better life on the other side of the world are now turning into nightmares.3 million, tough economic times have led to jobs going to native New Zealanders first.”With unemployment at a six-year high of 5 percent of the population of 4.But Britons in New Zealand who were being left without work had complained they were being hurt by a “jobs for Kiwis” trend.”The newspaper said one factor was New Zealand emigrants who had lost their jobs overseas returning home, and that more than 3000 of the 26,000 who returned last year ended up on benefits.One member of the group, Mike Bell, of Christchurch, said: “We are seeing families who have worked here years being effectively kicked out in two weeks.A migrant assistance group, Move2NZ, created by two Britons who emigrated nine years ago, has issued a pamphlet that claimed the attitude of officials is: “We’ve taken your money, used your skills, now bugger off!” London’s Telegraph newspaper reported.”Many have existing jobs or offers of work in areas listed by immigration as being in dire shortage.”Many have existing jobs or offers of work in areas listed by immigration as being in dire shortage.Employers wanting to bring in a migrant worker to do those jobs will have to show there are no suitable New Zealanders available in their region.Affected trades included bakers, sheep farm workers and construction sector occupations, such as bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and scaffolders. But they are effectively being told New Zealand doesn’t want them any more”.Mr Bell said: ” These workers have been invited.The Government’s long-term skill shortage list of 60 professions, included air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, automotive mechanics, boat builders, electricians and fitters and turners.But Mr Cantlon said immigration policy had always been based on ensuring that New Zealanders have the first opportunity to take up work vacancies.Removal of 44 occupations from that list last month reflected an ” astute adjustment” between supply and demand. And the 87 professions still on the immediate skills shortage list included laboratory technicians, gasfitters and glaziers.

.”There is now an increased supply of New Zealand citizens and permanent residents available who are qualified to fill positions previously on the skill shortage lists,” Mr Cantlon said

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Economics tutor Clayton Weatherston was ‘always putting Sophie down’, a friend told the High Court trial in Christchurch today.

Jessica Smithsaid that when she found out that her friend Sophie Elliott was seeing Weatherston she had concerns as a result of the difficulties it could create for both of them.

Weatherston has denied murdering Elliott in her home in 2008 but has admitted manslaughter.

Smith told the court that she tried to dissuade Sophie fromgoing ahead with the relationship but it “it was all on by June 30, 2007″. Weatherston stabbed Elliott 216 times.

“Sophie described their relationship as very up and down.

Over the next few months, Sophie confided in her friend, often talking about the relationship. Sometimes she was very happy, sometimes very low,” Smith said.

“She felt Clayton thought she was stupid.

Elliott told Smith that she felt Weatherston “didn’t appreciate her intelligence and spoke down to her”.”

When Weatherston was violent he “would yell a lot of different things at her that she was ugly and not attractive. He often told her that she didn’t know what she was talking about and that he knew far more than her.

Smith said when Elliott left for a trip to Australia in December 2007 it seemed the relationship was finished.

“Just little comments like that,” Smith told the court.

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Fire safety warnings on children’s nightwear are now compulsory after the death of one young boy and serious injuries to at least four others.

Retailers who fail to ensure the correct labels appear on pyjamas, nighties and other sleepwear face prosecution by the Commerce Commission from this month.

Four-year-old Corwin Bridge, of Red Beach, near Orewa, died of his burns in September 2007 after 2 1/2 months in Middlemore Hospital.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry regulations were introduced after several children were burnt when their pyjamas caught fire.

At least four more children under 10 were burnt in similar accidents in the four years before the regulations were passed. His pyjamas caught fire when he sat near a gas heater at a family member’s house.

Hamilton boy Jack Livingstone, 5, was badly burnt when his Chinese-made cotton pyjamas caught fire in 2007. The new colour-coded labels were phased in from July last year, but became compulsory on all sleepwear at the beginning of this month.

His road to recovery began with skin grafts and he wore a pressure suit for 23 hours a day for two years. He had been sitting in front of a gas heater watching television with his sister when the fabric ignited. .

He was able to switch to a less restrictive pressure sleeve just before he started school this year.

“The burns have healed to skin colour, it’s a little bit rough from the skin grafts, but overall he’s just getting on with it.

Jack had bounced back from his injuries and was not expected to have continuing problems, Mr Livingstone said yesterday.

The labels come in three colours white, orange and red and are coded according to their safety level, based on the garment’s style and fabric.”

Mr Livingstone said the new labelling was “a great idea, as long as every retailer abides by it”. Under the new system, they would have an orange label.

Jack’s pyjamas were bought from The Warehouse and were labelled a low fire risk.

The Warehouse would not comment on the new regulations yesterday. They were withdrawn from sale after a second boy suffered burns. It is either made of fabric that burns more slowly such as wool or is close-fitting.

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TAG! YOU’RE WEARING A FIRE SAFETY GUIDE!

WHITE: This label means the garment is a lower fire risk.

RED: The garment is a higher fire risk, either as a result of its fabric or because it is loose-fitting.

ORANGE: Label denotes garment made of a higher-risk fabric such as cotton, but is designed to be worn snug-fitting to reduce fire risk.

The safety regulations apply to all businesses involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of children’s nightwear.

The safety regulations apply to all businesses involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of children’s nightwear.

Individuals who breach the rules can be fined up to $60,000 corporations up to $200,000 under the Fair Trading Act.

The ministry urges parents to remember the “metre from the heater” rule to avoid fire danger.

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Manilow plan to calm Christchurch youth

By CHARLIE GATES – Tuesday, 03 March 2009

EASY LISTENING: Barry Manilow’s sweet sounds may be used to calm down unruly young people in Christchurch’s Stewart Plaza.

Barry Manilow could become the latest weapon to control intimidating youths in central Christchurch.
Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale is exploring plans to install speakers in Stewart Plaza to play "nice, easy listening" music to calm behaviour.
Copacabana, Can't Smile Without You, Mandy and other hits from the American crooner could be played in Stewart Plaza to disperse large groups of youths accused of littering, tagging and general disorder.
"If we put music through the City Mall, it would change the environment in some respects.
The technique has been used worldwide as a way to make places unattractive to youths. If they are aggressive and intimidating, that is a problem," he said. We do not mind young people being there, it is just what they do when they are there..
"If you look at pedestrian flows people do not walk through that area . ..
"It is not very PC and the idea is not to do that to your environment."
A device that makes a high-pitched noise that only young people can hear has also been used abroad to disperse teens, but that was seen as too aggressive.
Teens gathered in Stewart Plaza yesterday said they would not be deterred by unfashionable music. You can create a nice environment by introducing nice music," said Lonsdale. "We would just bring a stereo and play it louder.
Emma Belcher, 16, said they would combat the music with their own.
Shelley McManis, 17, said the plan was laughable. It would just be a waste of power and that would be bad for the environment," she said.
"I do not always like it here. "That would just be funny."
City centre community constable Nigel Heslop welcomed the idea as a "classic example of how a local community can do something". The atmosphere can sometimes be intimidating and there are fights all the time, but it is a good place to have a chat.
"It is low level, but it is consistently there and so it needs to be consistently policed.
"It is low level, but it is consistently there and so it needs to be consistently policed. Generally, we will arrest as we are trying to take a zero-tolerance attitude to disorder there," he said.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince supported the move as part of plans to target problem spots in the city.
It would also help protect the garden city's reputation.

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Surgery for brutally bashed war veteran

– Friday, 20 February 2009

BASHED: Police have released this image of Eric Brady, an 85-year-old man who was viciously beaten by a would-be car thief.

Brutally bashed war veteran Eric Brady will be operated on this afternoon.
The victim of a failed car-jacking, the 85-year-old pensioner was beaten so badly he was left with a broken jaw, cracked cheekbones and severe bruising.30pm, through a rear door leading to the car park.
Mr Brady, of Papatoetoe, had been enjoying a quiet drink at his local RSA on Wednesday night and left about 8. .
Detective Sergeant Shaun Vickers said Mr Brady was grabbed as he was getting into his car and assaulted.
"The offender then looked as if he was going to flee the scene but made a successful second attempt to pull Mr Brady out of the car," he said.
He fled the scene with the car keys while Mr Brady crawled to the rear door of the RSA, where he was found by another elderly man, Mr Vickers said.
But his attacker was unable to drive off in the white Toyota Sprinter Hatchback, as the car had an immobiliser.

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An RSA spokesperson said Mr Brady was in a stable condition in Middlemore Hospital and would be operated on this afternoon