Two a penny

.

A Wanganui toddler who died in unexplained circumstances over the weekend is the son of a gang member jailed for the 2007 shooting of another Wanganui toddler, Jhia Te Tua.

Two-year-old Karl Richard Arc Perigo-Check received severe internal injuries over the weekend.

Inspector Duncan MacLeod of Wanganui police confirmed the dead boy was the son of Karl Check, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for the 2007 murder, which happened after an altercation between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power gangs.

He was taken to Wanganui Hospital on Saturday afternoon, where he died.

While there were gang members associated with the case, police were keeping an open mind as to why and how the child died.

“We’re looking at the moment on behalf of the coroner to see how the death occurred,” he said. We’ve only been investigating since yesterday afternoon,” Mr MacLeod said.

“It’s early days yet.

Check, a father of seven, the drive-by instigator of the 2007 death, was found guilty of Jhia’s murder, along with the shooter Hayden Wallace and Ranji Forbes.

The investigation began after the post mortem “provided information which requires some explanation”, police said earlier today. .

Check had his case against his sentence heard in the Court of Appeal today. Not by disease nor by accident but by the malicious actions of those charged to protect and love him,” he said.

“The real scandal is that another child has likely been killed in this country.

“When are we going to protect these children? When are we going to get tough on derelict whanau, on deadbeat parents? Why do we tolerate this evil in our midst?”

.

Michael Jackson’s family has arrived more than hour late for the pop singer’s funeral, keeping 77-year-old Elizabeth Taylor and other celebrities waiting on a hot summer evening.

A police escort ushered the motorcade of 31 cars, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs, to Forest Lawn Glendale on Thursday.

The motorcade from their Encino compound departed more than a half-hour after the funeral was to begin.

The planned start of the service came and went as the crowd of about 200 awaited the arrival of Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine and the singer’s children.

Other mourners included Barry Bonds, Macaulay Culkin and the Rev.

Temperatures hovered at 90 just before sunset, with some mourners fanning themselves with programmes for the service.

The air was scented with smoke from a devastating wildfire that was about 10 miles distant from the cemetery. Al Sharpton

The delay meant that the 77-year-old Taylor and others were kept waiting on a muggy night at which temperatures hovered at 90 just before sunset, with some mourners fanning themselves with programs for the service at Forest Lawn Glendale. The equipment raised the possibility that the footage would be used for the Jackson concert documentary “This Is It.

A large, blimp-like inflated light, the type used in film and television production, and a boom camera hovered over the seating area placed in front of the elaborate marble mausoleum. Nearly double the number of media credentials, 435, were issued to reporters and film crews who remained at a distance from the service and behind barricades.”

About 250 seats were arranged for mourners over a green surface.

“Can you please put these flowers on his grave?” she told him.

Maria Martinez, 25, a fan from Riverside, California, who was joined by a dozen other Jackson admirers at a gas station near the security perimeter, gave a handful of pink flowers to a man with an invitation driving into the funeral. . Martinez said she picked them from a nearby park.”

The man consented, adding, “God bless. I’m not going to be able to get close, so this is as close as I could get to him.

Michael Jackson will share eternity at Forest Lawn with the likes of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.”

Glendale police said all was going smoothly early in the evening and there were no arrests. Fields, entombed alongside them in the mausoleum that will be all but off-limits to adoring fans who might otherwise turn the pop star’s grave into a shrine.C.

.

A group of people who believe David Bain killed his family are launching a fight to prevent him getting any compensation or inheritance money.

Bain, who spent 13 years behind bars for the murder of five of his family members in 1993, was adjudged not guilty of the murders at a High Court retrial ending in June.

But Justice For Robin Bain, formed from the Facebook group David Bain Is Guilty, is lobbying to prevent this happening.

Bain’s supporters, who say his father Robin killed the family members and then took his own life, have said they would seek compensation from the state for his years in prison.

Letters had also been written to Justice Minister Simon Power, who will decide whether compensation should be examined.

Spokesman Kent Parker said a website had been set up and a petition would be started.

“An acquittal based on spurious `what if?’ scenarios is not an argument for innocence. .

Mr Bain must apply to the Justice Minister for compensation, after which the matter may be referred to a Queen’s Counsel for investigation.”

Mr Parker said the group had no connection with any parties in the trial, or to Bain’s family.

Joe Karam, who spearheaded the long battle to free Mr Bain, said last week Mr Bain would be able to do that and comments to the contrary were ill-informed.

Unlike in the trial, where prosecutors had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Bain was guilty, Mr Bain has to prove he is innocent on the balance of probabilities before he can gain compensation.

The amount of compensation takes account of the length of jail time served and the claimant’s conduct.

“The evidence in the trial, I am saying, supports unequivocally that David Bain, on the balance of probabilities, is innocent of these crimes,” he said.

Mr Bain is also expected to try to claim his family inheritance. The base rate for each year served is $100,000.

.

Animal rights activists are calling for Manawatu SPCA’s chairwoman to quit or be removed from her position because of her connection with live animal testing.

Debbie Chesterfield manages Massey University’s small animals research breeding facility in Palmerston North.

Protesters outside The Plaza shopping mall in the city on Saturday claimed her Massey role was in conflict with promoting animal welfare. More than 150 people signed it, spokeswoman Kali Sandbrook said.

Save The Beagles and the National Anti Vivisection Campaign promoted a petition calling for Ms Chesterfield’s resignation from the SPCA.

Testing on animals was a difficult area for the RSPCA, she said.

Ms Chesterfield couldn’t be reached for comment yesterday, but RSPCA national chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said the organisation was aware of Ms Chesterfield’s day job.

Ethics approval was required for any university experiments and there were SPCA animal welfare representatives on animal ethics boards, she said. The RSPCA national council did not see fit to oust her when she first became involved, Ms Kippenberger said.

Ms Kippenberger said Ms Chesterfield’s perceived conflict of interest had been raised before. They voted her chair.

“Her committee seem to be happy to have her.

That case was cut and dried, she said.”

The RSPCA national council’s decision was before Ms Kippenberger’s tenure, but she was aware of a case since then, when a poultry farmer who used caged birds had her SPCA appointment blocked. Ms Kippenberger said she did not personally approve of animal experimentation, but she was prepared to concede some good did come out of it in terms of medical and scientific knowledge. Ms Kippenberger said she did not personally approve of animal experimentation, but she was prepared to concede some good did come out of it in terms of medical and scientific knowledge. .

“It’s a hard one.”

Animal testing had reduced in the past 20 years, she said. She’s been on that committee for quite some time.

Massey’s research capability was also important for Palmerston North, Ms Kippenberger said. Protocols had also been tightened.

“If you’re concerned about animal welfare, then you’re not involved in live animal testing,” she said.

However, Ms Sandbrook said the issue was straightforward Ms Chesterfield should go.” The public expected SPCA to care for animals, she said.

“She shouldn’t hold any position with SPCA.

“That was the whole point [to highlight her day job].

“That was the whole point [to highlight her day job].”

THE THREE Rs

.

The sentencing today of Christchurch dad
James Mason provides some clarity over the boundaries of the so-called
anti-smacking legislation, say police.

The musician escaped jail for punching his four-year-old son in a case widely seen as a test of the new law, with Mason publicly claiming he had done no more than administer a flick on the ear.

He was acquitted of two other charges of assault in respect of the four-year-old and another son.

The 49-year-old was sentenced in Christchurch District Court to nine months’ supervision and ordered to undergo anger management courses after earlier being found guilty of assaulting his son.

“Mr Mason was seen by two very credible witnesses to punch his child and he was subsequently charged with this offence.

Christchurch central area commander Inspector Derek Erasmus said that some media had incorrectly portrayed what was a “straightforward case of an assault”, reported by concerned witnesses, as a challenge to a parliamentary law.

The jury deliberated for 9½ hours on May 19, before returning the guilty verdict. .”

Outside the court today, Mason, a father-of-six, continued to deny he punched his four year old son.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Crosbie said: “This is not a case that would have been dealt with any differently prior to the legislation being changed. Kind of like ‘did David Bain kill his family’?”

Mason said the verdict would ”not really” change his behaviour as a father.

”Just because I’ve been convicted of something doesn’t mean I did something.

Judge Crosbie said the case was described by the Crown as an inappropriate response in a stressful parenting situation.

Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger had sought a discharge without conviction.

They were then scolded and one of them was assaulted by Mason, the jury found.

The children had gone down a ramp on a bridge on their bikes and one had fallen and hurt his head.

Latest figures show from between April 5, 2008 and October 3, 2008 police attended a total of 258 child-assault events, including nine smacking cases and 49 of minor acts of physical discipline.

The so-called anti-smacking legislation came into effect in June 2007 and remains under review by police.

– and

.

There were four prosecutions of “minor acts of physical discipline”, three of which resulted in convictions

.

A man who profiled himself on online dating websites is facing further charges of infecting both men and women with the HIV virus.

Police allege the 40-year-old man was diagnosed HIV positive in May 2007 and has led an active sex life ever since.

He was originally arrested on May 28 and charged with three counts of infecting with disease (HIV) and one of attempted infecting with a disease.

The charges he faces relate to six complainants, four of whom are HIV positive, Ms Hegarty said.

Police communications manager Noreen Hegarty said the accused would appear in the Auckland District Court today facing with a further eight offences; four of wounding with reckless regard, one of infecting with a disease, one of attempted infecting with disease and two of attempted wounding with reckless disregard.

He was remanded in custody after his May 28 Court appearance. .

– Next Crime story: –
Homicide inquiry after teen found dead in bed

– National Homepage -

.

A Christchurch man who was attacked from behind by a mob of teenagers says he feared for his life as blows like “steel rain” struck his head.

Cole, 19, who did not want his last name used for fear of retribution, was walking home along Lincoln Rd in Addington from the central city with friend Michael, 18, about 2am on Saturday when they were attacked from behind by teenagers armed with lengths of wood.

About 10 youths had gathered under an overbridge, and two from the group stepped forward and asked them for a cigarette.

The pair had been at a 21st party and thought they would be safe walking home together along a main road, Cole said. It wasn’t until then that they pretty much surrounded us and I thought, ‘This isn’t going to be good’.

“We said we didn’t smoke and then they walked back to their mates.

The friends were hit around the head with pieces of wood and knocked unconscious. I saw they were carrying weapons,” Cole said.

“There wasn’t much we could do,” Cole said. They were robbed of personal possessions, including their wallets. Before we knew what was occuring, it was like steel rain on my head. “They came from behind.

“It was pretty scary.

“It wasn’t until the constant pounding to my head that I thought, ‘This is going to be it’, and I feared for my life. They were in a big group with weapons against the two of us and they could not even come at us front-on. I cannot believe how cowardly they were. They returned home yesterday afternoon with cuts and bruising.”

A passing motorist called the police and an ambulance, and the pair were kept in hospital overnight.

“It was a deliberate ambush.

Acting Detective Sergeant Dale Forman said there did not appear to be gang links to the group. . The most concerning aspect of the attack is the pack mentality and the way they have held the lengths of wood like baseball bats,” Forman said.”

Police believed about 10 youths were involved in the attack and about half of them wielded lengths of wood. Their intention has been to knock these victims out or cause permanent or lasting injuries.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

Police are appealing for witnesses.

They are interested in speaking to two women who walked past the group before the attack.

Anyone with information should call Forman on (03) 344 0683.

.

New Zealand would consider sending armed forces troops into Fiji if they were needed to stabilise peace as part of a multi-lateral action, Prime Minister John Key says.

The Government was not “sitting here planning today to do that” but would consider it if the need arose, he told TV One’s Breakfast show. .
“If it was part of a multi-lateral effort to stabilise peace in a dangerous situation in Fiji of course New Zealand would consider that (sending in troops),” he said. . .”
He said there was always the threat of a fight back from the Fijian people. I think it’s tragic actually.
“Sacking the judges, clamping down on personal freedoms, media freedoms, it doesn’t get much worse than that,” he said.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said yesterday the Government was considering strengthening sanctions against Fiji but would not impose tourism and trade restrictions.”
Fiji’s President Ratu Iloilo scrapped Fiji’s constitution and fired the judiciary earlier this month after three Appeal Court judges ruled the military takeover in 2006 was illegal.
“That’s a traditional mould for a military dictator and it hasn’t had a happy ending anywhere in the world.
His explanation has been that he won’t hold elections until reforms have been implemented to change the system, and the timeline has been extended to 2014.
Self-appointed Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama was re-appointed prime minister and immediately issued decrees which included media censorship and immunity from prosecution for soldiers.
–

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

.
The Pacific Island Forum, the Commonwealth and the European Union are urging Commodore Bainimarama to return Fiji to democratic rule but he has so far ignored them

.

Two burglaries in Methven today are thought to be the work of elusive fugitive William Stewart.

The burglaries came within about five minutes of each other, police said, and a vehicle sighted fitted the description of a 4WD ute believed to be in Stewart’s possession.

Stewart, 47, has been on the run since he allegedly threatened a police officer with an iron bar in central Canterbury on February 10 before disappearing into bush. .

There are five warrants out for his arrest and he is thought to have committed a string of burglaries and car thefts while on the run.

On March 21 Stewart eluded the armed offenders squad southwest of Christchurch before stealing a purple late model Ford Falcon XR6 and picking up hitchhikers.

He is believed to be a P addict and his burglaries include hauls of drug products from South Island pharmacies.

Stewart offered the hitchhikers a ride from Hororata, Mid-Canterbury, to a close toby motorcycle rally and asked them to get him the drug P.10am when a window was smashed to gain entry to Methven chemist’s shop, and a fishing rod was taken.

The man leading the hunt for Stewart, Senior Sergeant Stewart Munro, of Selwyn, said today the first burglary was about 4.15am the front door of the Mobil Service Station in Methven was smashed and a quantity of tobacco taken.

About 4.

The suspect vehicle was believed to be registration number ETU351, a grey 2009 Hilux twin cab, well side ute with a canopy.

Mr Munro said the vehicle sighted at both burglaries was a 4WD double cab ute, coloured grey. It was thought to be in the possession of Stewart. It was thought to be in the possession of Stewart.

He also advised farmers in the area to ensure that their properties, out buildings, farm houses, huts and vehicles were monitored and secured.

He asked that farmers and occupiers of properties in farming areas report any suspicious vehicle movements or people on their property to southern police communications on 111.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

-

.
Insect bites sting ACC for millions

– Sunday, 01 March 2009

Mozzies are costing taxpayers money.

BITES AND stings from mosquitoes, bees and other creepy crawlies have cost taxpayers more than $11 million over the past four years, as Kiwis troop to their doctors suffering from allergic reactions, infections and rashes.
Victims can claim compensation from ACC if the symptoms from a bite or sting are bad enough to be deemed an injury. And payments are on the rise. They also cover hospital treatment, often necessary if the area becomes seriously infected. The payments cover everything from doctor's appointments to antihistamine tablets, antibiotics and ointments, and adrenalin injections for the severely allergic. That's more than double the $1,496,957 it paid in the year up to June 2004. In the year to June 2008, ACC paid out $3,302,523 in insect bite claims.85m. The total over the four years from 2004 was $11. Bites from fleas, ticks and flies racked up almost $50,000 last year, while bedbugs were the least costly, with just five claims totalling $184 last year.
The stingers bees, bumble bees and wasps top the payout lists, with spiders second and mosquitoes third.
Auckland GP Jonathan Fox, head of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs, said while most people won't go to the doctor with an "ordinary" bite, some need treatment for allergies. Another $2m in claims were attributed to "unspecified" creatures. I have seen some really unpleasant infected legs, and things like that, from infected insect bites. "But probably the most common thing we see is infection.
"If untreated, infection can be quite debilitating."
Any kind of bite or sting anything that breaks the skin can lead to cellulitis and other serious skin infections, said Fox. [The rise in ACC payments] may be a reflection of that that families have been taking children with infected insect bites to the doctor more often, knowing it's going to be covered by ACC. In areas such as South Auckland there have been major campaigns to try and cut down on skin infections. ."
ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Julian thought the increase could be due to a computerised system, and public awareness.