Two a penny

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Consumer resistance to paying for plastic bags has spread north, with New World and Four Square supermarkets in the upper North Island today removing a 5c charge.

The move follows the axing of the same fee at the same supermarkets in the lower North Island three days ago.

Foodstuffs Auckland’s general manager of retail sales and performance, Murray Jordan, said the charge had been removed in response to customer feedback.

It comes just four weeks after the stores, which are part of the Foodstuffs chain, introduced the levy in an attempt to get people to reduce their reliance on plastic bags.

“Our owner operators, who know their customers, have been receiving a lot of feedback on the floor and this feedback has been confirmed by a customer survey.

“Our customers have spoken and we have listened,” he said.

However, the 5c levy is remaining at New World and Four Square supermarkets in the South Island.”

Mr Jordan said there had been an “exceptional increase” in people using reusable bags and Foodstuffs would continue to put measures in place that recognised those customers.

As a result of the fee, $50,000 would be donated to five South Island environmental projects identified by the Department of Conservation.

Foodstuffs South Island’s general manager for retail operations, Alan Malcolmson, said there had been great support from customers and plastic bag use had dropped 60 percent over the past month.

“It’s a win-win for the environment – bags being saved and projects benefiting.

“This is just the first of what we envisage will be ongoing support for environmental projects,” Mr Malcolmson said. .

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The millionaire reality TV star accused of murdering a former swimsuit model and stuffing her naked, mutilated body in a suitcase, has been found dead in a motel in British Columbia.

It appears the reality TV star “took his own life,”RCMP Sgt Duncan Pound, spokesperson for the RCMP’s federal border integrity programme said. Any further details will not be released at this time as this investigation remains in its infancy.

“At this present time the investigation into the circumstances of his death is continuing, but preliminary evidence suggests that he took his own life. His body was found in a room at the out-of-the-way motel.”

Jenkins’ body was found in The Thunderbird Motel on a secluded road on the outskirts of Hope British Columbia, at the entrance to the province’s mountainous interior.

Jenkins, 32, disappeared last week but his boat was found Wednesday at a marina not far from the US-Canada border south of Vancouver.

The Thunderbird was surrounded by police with a coroner’s van, said Mark Lojeski who works at the close toby Lucky Strike Motel. Crime scene investigators identified Jenkins through fingerprints, she said.

Jenkins had apparently hanged himself, said Farrah Emami, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in California, which is contact with Canadian police.

The 32-year-old real estate developer and investor from Calgary is suspected of strangling Jasmine Fiore and then reporting her missing the evening of August 15 before fleeing.

Just three hours earlier, Mounties met with the media to confirm that the reality TV star was hiding out in western Canada and had urged him to give himself up.

Authorities believe Jenkins fled via car, boat and on foot to enter Canada.

Fiore’s naked, mutilated body was found in a suitcase inside a rubbish bin in Buena Park, about 32km southeast of Los Angeles. Investigators used the serial numbers on her breast implants to identify her, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Fiore’s teeth had been pulled out and her fingers cut off, apparently to impede her identification. The couple separated shortly afterward, but had reportedly recently reconciled.

Jenkins and Fiore met in Las Vegas in March and they married a few weeks later. She also was an aspiring actress and had a bit part in a small 2008 horror science-fiction movie, The Abandoned, according to the Internet Movie Database. .

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Desperate criminals may kill police and victims in order to avoid arrest under hard-line “life sentences without parole” policies, officials have warned.

Confidential papers issued under the Official Information Act show that the Government was told the policies could also breach human rights, cause misbehaviour in prisons, clog courts, and lead to judges giving shorter sentences to avoid the no-parole policy. Justice Minister Simon Power has conceded it may not make it to law.

ACT’s “three strikes” policy, introduced as part of the Government’s support agreement, has been widely criticised for breaching human rights.

Both measures are before Parliament in the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill.

But officials also advised in the Cabinet papers that National’s “no parole for the worst murderers” policy, an election promise, breached the Bill of Rights and several international human rights treaties.

National plans to abolish parole for repeat violent offenders, meaning murderers with previous serious convictions would never be freed unless it was “manifestly unjust”. The policies aim to improve public safety through deterrence and by locking up serious recidivists for longer.

The Justice Ministry also said that the list of violent offences that would result in no parole on a subsequent serious charge was “problematic” if the aim was to target the most serious violent offenders.

But the Cabinet was told that exception was “unlikely to prevent disproportionate sentences from being imposed”.

Several government departments also warned of unintended consequences of the no-parole and the three-strikes policies:

Te Puni Kokiri said violence may increase under three strikes.

For example, aggravated burglary involves having a weapon but may not involve violence, and indecent assault often involved minor touching and no force.”

Corrections said judges may try to avoid the policy by reducing sentences to under five years in borderline cases. “Criminals may seek to mitigate the risk of arrest by more seriously injuring or murdering their victims and police officers. .

The Treasury said sentences could increase overall, even in less serious cases, as judges brought them in line with increased penalties for repeat violent offenders.

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Mr Power said the Government had strived to deal with issues raised over the no-parole policy.

And life sentences with no parole would result in poor behaviour of prisoners who had no incentive to behave or undertake rehabilitative programmes.”

Regarding three strikes, the Government would enter the select committee process with an open mind. “We’re happy with the balance achieved.

-National’s ‘no parole for worst offenders’ policy

-The worst repeat violent offenders and the worst murderers will not be granted parole.

ON THE TABLE

The following measures are before Parliament in the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill.

-ACT’s ‘three strikes’ policy

-This would see those convicted of a third serious offence sentenced to life imprisonment with a 25-year non-parole period. This means anyone convicted of murder who has previously been sentenced to five years or more will spend the rest of their lives in jail with no chance of release…. Such sentences appear to breach the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990 and several international human rights treaties … because they do not provide for any consideration of a change in the offenders’ circumstances.’

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Charges over Alexandra bashing

By JOANNE CARROLL – Tuesday, 24 February 2009

A 43-year-old man has been charged with assaulting awoman following an incident at a rural address just outsideAlexandraon Saturday. .
He was remanded in custody to reappear on March 3.
The37-year-old Alexandra woman remains comatose in a serious condition in Dunedin Hospital.
His occupation and details of his alleged victim were also suppressed.
The man was found a short time later and was taken by police to be assessed in a mental health unit at Wakari Hospital.
She was found unconscious with head injuries at her home on Saturday morning and airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.
Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Blackie, heading the investigation, said police and forensic staff had completeda scene examination. This decision maybe some days away," he said.
"A decision of what, if any, further charges will be made when all of the evidence has been obtained and analysed.

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Two children at the address at the time of the incident are being well cared for by next of kin

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Bus tunnel hit-and-run car was blue

By Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Supplied
FORENSIC ANALYSIS: Fabric from the clothing of hit-and-run victim Earl Krauskopf shows blue paint residue.

Police check paint flecks from hit-run

Victim may not walk again

Police are now examining for a blue vehicle involved in a recent hit-and-run accident in the Mt Victoria bus tunnel which left a Wellington man critically injured.
Mr Krauskopf, 41, is still in intensive care at Wellington Hospital.
This follows forensic tests of clothing worn by accident victim Earl Krauskopf, who was hit from behind as he was walking through the bus-only tunnel at the top of Pirie St just before 4am on the morning of Saturday January 31.
He said police would like to hear from anyone with information about a vehicle with blue paint that has recently been damaged.
Detective Senior Sergeant Thornton said he hoped paint analysis of fragments from the victim's jacket could help find the driver.

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Injured Kiwis ready for more Aussie fires

and Tuesday, 10 February 2009

BACK INTO THE BREACH: Nelson fireman Nick McCabe suffered in 2006 after his group had to hide in a ditch as a wall of flames swept over them. He remembers the pain but will volunteer to go again. .
Both men said yesterday they would gladly return if their services were needed.
Memories of being in hospital with bad burns to their hands, arms and faces have not stopped Nelson fireman Nick McCabe and his Wairoa colleague Tim Allan from volunteering to return to the tinder-dry Australian bush. Yesterday Mr Rudd accepted the offer, but Mr Key did not think they would leave for a week or two.
Prime Minister John Key offered his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd the use of 100 firefighters.
"We have the manpower and the military capability to get them there immediately," he said. They have still got quite a lot of backup in Australia at this point but they anticipate that, down the track, they will require it. "It's at the request of the Australians that they don't go immediately. "We're standing ready, willing and able."
He said timing was in the hands of the Australian authorities. Until that happened, Mr Dudfield could not confirm who could be called upon."
National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield said Australian firefighters had not formally requested Kiwi support at this stage.
However, Mr McCabe said: "If they call for volunteers I'll be putting my hand up.
However, Mr McCabe said: "If they call for volunteers I'll be putting my hand up.
"We all just went into survival mode really.
They hid in a ditch as a wall of flames went over the top of them. It all happened so fast," Mr Allan said. We didn't have time to be scared. Six members of the group, who were all wearing protective gear, were taken to hospital, including Mr McCabe and Mr Allan.
The group suffered further burns when they ran toward a clearing.
Mr Key said he had expressed his sympathies to Mr Rudd, who was "pretty cut up" by the fatal bushfires. Both have recovered from burns, mostly to their hands and faces.
New Zealand also faces an extreme fire risk problem in areas such as Central Otago, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay and the East Coast of the North Island. He was "touched" by New Zealand's offer of assistance.
MetService spokesperson Bob McDavitt said there had been reports of a pinkish smoke haze over New Zealand on Sunday and Monday caused by bushfire smoke pushed across the Tasman by westerly winds.
MetService spokesperson Bob McDavitt said there had been reports of a pinkish smoke haze over New Zealand on Sunday and Monday caused by bushfire smoke pushed across the Tasman by westerly winds. The haze had dissipated as a result of winds turning southeasterly over Victoria and South Australia yesterday.

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Killer beat 17-year-old before Aim murder

The Friday, 06 February 2009

TRACEY ROBINSON
GUILTY PLEA: Jahche Broughton initially denied any involvement in the death of Karen Aim, but yesterday he admitted murdering the Scottish tourist.

FAMILIES’ NIGHTMARE: The mother of the killer of Karen Aim, pictured, said it was a nightmare for her family and the Aim family and she was finding it hard to understand what had happened. It’s not something a family should go through . ‘It’s like D-Day for us, and it would be like that for the Aim family as well…
Two weeks before he bashed 26-year-old Miss Aim to death, the 14-year-old attacked and seriously injured another young woman by hitting her on the head with a rock.’

Security guard helped protect Aim’s killer

Teen pleads guilty to Karen Aim murder

Scottish tourist Karen Aim was not Jahche Broughton's only victim.
He faces life imprisonment when he appears for sentencing in Rotorua on March 6.
This was revealed publicly for the first time at a pre-trial hearing in the High Court at Auckland yesterday where Broughton entered an unexpected guilty plea to both offences murdering Mis Aim, and injuring the 17-year-old with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was "very well loved" as a child, she said.
His mother, Eugenie Broughton, who arrived at court too late for the brief hearing, is struggling to understand what happened.
It was a nightmare for her family and the Aim family and she was finding it hard to understand what had happened. He had a good upbringing and was not spoilt. It's not something a family should go through .
"It's like D-Day for us, and it would be like that for the Aim family as well…"
As for her son, she said: "He will be trying to comprehend what has happened. yes, it's a bit of a nightmare."
Lawyer Bill Lawson said Broughton pleaded guilty because "it was the right thing to do". He is so young, he is only a child and children often don't fully understand.
"Part of the process of being able to carry on is to find out exactly what happened that night.
Miss Aim's father, Brian, was relieved he did not have to sit through a long trial but he still had questions he wanted answered."
Mr Aim praised the work of detectives involved in the case."
Mr Aim praised the work of detectives involved in the case.
The murder of Miss Aim on January 17 last year shocked two communities half a world apart Taupo and her home town of Holm, in the Orkney Islands. Police said she had farewelled friends at a Taupo bar to walk home and was just 50 metres from her flat when she was bashed twice on the head by Broughton.
The last sighting of her was a closed-circuit television image showing her walking out of a service station eating a pie.
Miss Aim was found critically injured by a security guard and police investigating vandalism of smashed windows at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College.
She died before reaching Taupo Hospital.
Police say she had walked close to or through the school, about the time the school windows were being smashed.
Within an hour of her death police had identified Broughton as a prime suspect, based on the attack of the 17-year-old girl a fortnight earlier.
Details of this assault have been legally suppressed until now.
The victim had been walking home from a party when she was attacked from behind.
Broughton hit her 10 times on the back of the head before she staggered to a house to call for help.
Broughton had been evicted from the party earlier in the night because he was drunk.
After the attack he went to the house of a friend, Leigh Herewini, to wash off the blood.
Broughton told Mr Herewini he had been in a fight and was taken back home.
By coincidence, Mr Herewini was working as a security guard at Taupo nui-a-Tia College the night Miss Aim was killed. .
Broughton's arrest came after police watched closed-circuit television footage from the college leading up to the murder.
It showed a young male riding a chopper-style bike, and wearing a diamond earring similar to one described by his first victim. He was arrested a fortnight later.
Police later searched the house where he lived with his grandparents and found a bloodied baseball bat and Miss Aim's black handbag and camera.

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Tot found wandering alone in Kaikoura

Mum left 16-month-old home alone to go ‘socialising’

Sunday, 01 February 2009

A 16-month old toddler has been found on the frontyard of a Kaikoura property after being left home alone overnight.
The boy was found outside a Beach Rd business property by members of the public about 2.45am.
He was placed into Child Youth and Family care until a family member could be found. Inspector Michael Coulter said the boy was taken to the Kaikoura medical centre for a check-up and was found to be in good health.
"The mother admitted leaving the child unattended for approximately four hours while she went out socialising.
"At approximately 4:12am, police were contacted by the distressed mother, who was visiting Kaikoura from the North Island," Mr Coulter said."
Mr Coulter said the boy had woken overnight and left the house he was staying in, possibly through the front door being left open.

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The child will remain in care until the matter has been fully investigated

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Cell death inquiry finds 17 breaches

The Thursday, 29 January 2009

Policebreached procedure 17 times when processing a man who was later found dead in his cell, an internal investigation found.
Anthony McGuire, 33, a chef, died in his cell on May 26 last year. .
Investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Anderson told an inquest at Rotorua yesterday that there were 17 breaches of procedure.
He was inadequately monitored by police staff, and had not been searched, fingerprinted or photographed, the internal police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death found. It was common police policy to remove any items from prisoners that could be used to harm themselves or others. Mr McGuire was not searched, fingerprinted or photographed and was locked up fully clothed with items such as shoelaces and jewellery.
Mr McGuire was found hanging by his shoelaces from his cell door. "They don't deny what happened. His sister, Belinda McGuire, said the family did not hold any animosity toward police.
"The family is satisfied with the events of his death that have come out in the inquest and it will bring closure for all of us. In the end, Anthony must be responsible for his own actions."

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Suspicious blazes strike Invercargill

Police investigations begin as rash of call-outs stretches fire crews

By JARED MORGAN – Wednesday, 28 January 2009

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FIGHTING TO GET IN: Firefighters struggled to get into a shed on Bluff Rd during a large fire at 3.30am yesterday.

Invercargill police are investigating four suspicious blazes, including a home targeted as a family slept inside, after a rash of call-outs stretched city fire crews yesterday.
The question of whether a firebug was responsible for the suspicious blazes was something police and Fire Safety investigators would not be drawn on last night.
Between midnight and 7pm firefighters received 11 call-outs to six structure fires, including the four being investigated, one callback to the scene of an earlier fire, one car crash and three false alarms.
Firefighters were called to the first fire in a hayshed on Severn St about midnight.
Detective Fred Shandley, of Invercargill CIB, said joint investigations were continuing on whether the fires were connected. .30am destroyed a storage shed on Bluff Rd.
The second fire about 3.
In the fourth blaze, which broke out between 6am and 9am, an uninsured business premises in the South City Mall on Elles Rd was damaged after a refrigeration unit on the roof of the building was set alight, he said.
A home in Bain St was the third property hit after wood against an exterior wall was set alight.
"If you look at the time and location there is more similarity between the (first three) fires.
It was unclear whether the fourth fire was linked to the first three, Mr Shandley said."
Gary Rodgers, the owner of the Bluff Rd shed, was yesterday counting the cost of the blaze."
Gary Rodgers, the owner of the Bluff Rd shed, was yesterday counting the cost of the blaze."
His tenant, who rented half the shed from him and lost a $90,000 street sweeper and personal effects, alerted him to the fire about 5.
"It's more than $100,000 worth of gear without the cost of the shed.
"My son passed me the phone and he said `I've got some bad news for you.30am, Mr Rogers said.
"He said `it's worse than that it's gone'.' I said `the bastards have broken into Bluff Rd haven't they?'," Mr Rogers said. "It's not a life it hasn't got a pulse."
While insurance had yet to assess the extent of losses, he was remaining positive, he said.49am."
In Bain St, Glenys Williamson, her 26-year-old son Manawa and three grandchildren Joshua Kerr, 16, Marcus Kerr, 14, and Tyler Kerr, 9, were all woken by a neighbour thumping on the door at 6. I said `what?"'
Her son and eldest grandson rushed outside with buckets of water to douse the flames while she called 111, she said. I said `what?"'
Her son and eldest grandson rushed outside with buckets of water to douse the flames while she called 111, she said.
The fire, which scorched the eave of the house but caused little damage, had rattled her and her family, Ms Williamson said.
"It's scary I've got to get young Tyler to bed tonight and say it's going to be all right."
At Impuls-d, a South City Mall bag retailer, owner Warren Skill said he was aware youths sometimes hung out on the roof. and believed they were responsible for the blaze.
He was uninsured.
Invercargill Fire Service chief fire officer Brendan Nally said the volume of call-outs had taxed firefighting resources.
Rostered fire crews, one at the Kingswell station in south Invercargill and two at the fire service's central city headquarters, had to be supplemented by volunteers and off-duty firefighters to deal with the blazes particularly those that happened yesterday morning, which tied up firefighters for hours, he said.
"We activated Invercargill volunteers we've got 17 (people) available and had to call in staff who were off duty."
Many of the additional staff mobilised to fight the fires were rostered to begin work at 8am and were beginning to feel jaded by yesterday afternoon, Mr Nally said.
"We are having to manage a fair bit of fatigue."
SUSPICIOUS FIRES Midnight: Firefighters are called to a hayshed in Severn St, an excavator is used to bury burning hay and fire crews maintain vigil at the scene until 6am. 3.25am: Fire crews called to a large shed on Bluff Rd opposite the intersection with Hyde St to find it well ablaze. Tight security on fences and the structure itself hamper efforts to douse the blaze. An explosion and the sound of gas cylinders venting in the heat mean firefighters build an improvised dam around intact cylinders to hold water and keep them cool. They remain on the scene until 8am. 6.53am: Firefighters douse the remnants of a deliberately lit fire against the exterior wall of a house. 10am: A fire in the housing for a refrigeration unit on the roof of a Elles Rd business goes up in smoke. Firefighters are forced to dismantle the housing and break into the roof cavity to reach the seat of the blaze.