Open Justice multimedia journalist, Christchurch
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'Something to live for': Judge allows Mobster to hold baby son before prison
Three generations of Mongrel Mob family in one court.
Car driven through red light at 124km/h before fatal crash
Sunny Mikaiera Nepia has admitted his high-speed dangerous driving killed a woman.
'Akin to torture': Couple found guilty of elder abuse of man with dementia
The man was kept locked up at home most of each day.
One-woman prison riot: Convicted killer's damage spree costs $18,000
Three years after receiving her life sentence, Katrina Epiha has caused $18,370 damage.
Court struggles with a (sometimes naked) mental health patient
Woman will stay in custody for one more week while the court works out what to do.
Tribesmen gang was shifting millions of dollars of meth during lockdown
Tamal Edward McMeekan admitted his role in the gang's drug dealing, ahead of his trial.
Lost skipper's crew rolled cannabis joint before trawler grounding
Court told of Debbie Jane's disastrous voyage from Akaroa.
'I knew we had to stop him,' police AOS member tells inquest
Officer tells of opening fire at armed incident, after a car ran him down.
Judge has never seen such a web of lies
Nicola Sara Watts' lies and deceit went on for a year.
12yo girl left 'withdrawn, angry and self-conscious' after sleeping sex assault
Mother says her daughter was left withdrawn, angry and extremely self-conscious.
Value of 'priceless' carving becomes an issue
Items of 'unknown value' not allowed under the justice system.
Coroner hears details of fatal police shooting
Inquest hears that wife thought she was going to die at the hands of her armed husband.
Trial delayed for man accused of murdering Michael McGrath
Illness causes delay of six-week trial. No new trial date set yet.
Eight-year-old stood her ground to protect mum
The Christchurch District Court was told of the girl's brave efforts.
Trainer sold fictitious horse for $40,000
Rangiora trainer Mitchell Kerr was banned for life, and now faces home detention.
Gestures in court as shooters appear
Two accused shooters made no bail applications at their court appearances.
Manslaughter charge admitted over King Cobras killing
King Cobras member was fatally shot over a drug debt dispute in 2018.
Flatmate punched and stomped to death
Flatmate said he felt "crook" and died two days after the assault.
Alleged Tribesmen gang 'banker' told to explain $351,000 cash deposits
Mother admits "hiding" cash in the bush, for her son, at High Court forfeiture hearing.
Judge praises courage of survivor of naked attack
Courageous stand in court by home invasion attack survivor.
Drink-spiking, sex assault case: 38 complainants, four defendants - and one bar
Thirty-eight complainants in trial alleging drink-spiking and sexual assaults.
Dad pleads guilty to manslaughter of 6-year-old son
The 32-year-old man drove off the road at high speed.
Lifetime animal ban imposed for former GP after 100 stock left to starve or die on her farm
Declining mental health meant managing a farm was "overwhelming and debilitating".
'His life went into massive decline': The businessman, the meth and his brazen shoplifting
Rodger Yardley simply loaded up high-value goods and headed for the door.
Guilty pleas after bloody gang brawl outside court
Eleven pleaded guilty to violence charges after criminal conspiracy charges were dropped.
Former All Black convicted, discharged over alcohol incident
Zac Guildford accused of drinking alcohol while on an intensive supervision sentence.
After a violent incident, an offer to pay for injuries to dog
Jac Rhys Howells rammed another ute when two good Samaritans intervened in domestic row.
Horse trainer charged with indecent assaults
The man faces six charges, all alleging offending on November 11.
Security uniform gave impersonator 'a certain swagger', says judge
Judge says security worker had 'exaggerated his role within the wider court system'.
Fatal 'microsleep': Teen's night-long drive that ended in tragedy
Tired teenage driver had been drifting in his lane before head-on crash killed two.
Hammer attack murderer sentenced to 18 years' jail, was on bail at time
Man who killed wife's new partner was on bail subject to protection order,trespass notice.
Life term for man's rage-fuelled hammer murder of ex-wife's new partner
Life term with a non-parole term of 18 and a half years was imposed on Niraj Prasad.
Judge must decide whether $1m cash flow was legitimate
Man says money came from sales of synthetics before they were made illegal.
Carer tells of family's measures to look after dementia sufferer
Witness says family coped with dementia issues as they came up, with lock and a wetsuit.
Crown wants to grab $1m assets after jail term on party pill charge
Hugh James Robinson was jailed for four years for conspiring to deal in party pills.
Christchurch couple challenge medication evidence at dementia care trial
Couple will say hospital gave them medication, and advice about possible side-effects.
Elderly man had no light, water, fresh air and little sanitation, police allege
No access to light, air, water and made to wear a nappy and a wetsuit, police allege.
Teen admits killing: One fatal punch caused 'catastrophic brain injuries'
Attack happened at a gathering of cars and young people in a supermarket car park.
Guilty pleas halt meth importation trial
Negotiations began in the middle of the trial, and ended with seven guilty pleas.
Named: Man charged with murder of carer was her boarder
The killing shocked the quiet Christchurch street on which she lived.
Guilty verdicts on CYFS caregiver's abuse charges
Jury accepted girl's evidence of abuse at CYFS home 27 years ago.
Govt comms adviser sentenced for bar assault
Joel Ineson admitted the injuring charge after the Christmas Eve bar assault.
Online stalker fights to keep suppression
Judge refuses suppression, but appeal papers will be filed.
CYFS records cast doubt on abuse allegations, says defence
Defence question's woman's credibility at sex abuse trial of CYFS caregiver.
Frisbee v maths: Teacher wins the contest but faces charge
Teacher took a frisbee off a student and led her back to the classroom.
Teen became pregnant after repeated rapes
Rapist threatened to kill teenager's family.
Suppression continues for Colombian woman's murder accused
Murder trial has been set for June 12, 2023.
Christchurch CEO sex offender appeals 17-year jail term
Defence says the sentencing judge did not take "full regard" of comparable cases.
Father 'furious' about discharge of son who had been threatening suicide
Liam Booth was found dead in a park near his Beckenham home.
'Who would believe you?': Teen's abuse complaints were ignored, she says
The trial of a former Cyfs caregiver on 10 sexual abuse charges has begun.
Fraudster's $18k crime spree hit brothels, sex worker, hotels
Benjamin Langley conned victims into thinking payments had been made.
Man admits coward punch assault on Auckland health worker
Healthcare staffer was on his way to work at Auckland Hospital when he was attacked.
Man charged with Parliament grounds fire
Registrar's remand was granted for a man facing a Parliament grounds arson charge.
Murder parolee Timothy Taylor admits red light visits
GPS monitoring showed he had been deviating on approved outings.
Missing trawler skipper back in court
Trawler skipper David Atkinson has made an appearance in Napier District Court.
Three charged with swapping driver seats after two killed in crash
Two were killed and others were injured in a crash between a ute and car.
Where are you? Skipper of a grounded fishing trawler is MIA
Court told there's been no contact with skipper facing safety charges since September.
Cannabis advice came through pet and garden shop
Man's rehabilitation efforts since police's cannabis raids have kept him out of prison.
Frenzied attack: Bravery of boy, 11, and woman commended by judge
The attacks with a knife and scissors missed vital organs by millimetres.
Woman created fake confessions, from prison
Even from inside prison, Nicola Sara Watts was trying to create her deceptions.
Random firearms offences caused arming of Canterbury police
Jed Waghorn's firearms offences occurred three months after the 2019 mosque attacks.
Guilty verdict after two hours in car murder trial
The jury rejected the defence's argument that the killing amounted to manslaughter.
13 years' jail for 'gratuitous' violence', sexual offending
Forty-year-old man admitted 30 charges involving six victims.
Uncle heard sexual assault on tracker app installed on 15yo's phone
Teen's cell phone tracker caught sounds of sex attack.
Jury shown graphic video of man being run down
A 1min 20sec video clip played to jury shows a man being run down and crushed to death.
Rapid guilty verdict in murder trial
Crown said the attack was the culmination of six months of 'pent-up rage and aggression'.
Drugs import trial pauses for two months
After two days of evidence, the trial of Sami Zagros has been delayed to May 30.
Claim of self defence in hammer homicide
Counsel's closing address sets out details of Niraj Prasad's self-defence claim.
Trial presses on after juror tests positive
Juror discharged and left the Christchurch Court House after a positive Covid test.
'Mum, it's too late and too dangerous', woman told at homicide scene
Rushing to homicide scene, woman saw gloved hand covered in blood, murder trial hears.
Ex-husband lay in wait for wife's new partner with hammer and knife, Crown alleges
Crown alleges homicide victim had 38 injuries on head and body.
Judge accepts boys' evidence of years of beatings by stepmum
The two teenage boys were "compelling witnesses", a Christchurch judge found.
'I hate you and I'll never forgive you' - grieving mum's strong words to the teen who killed her son
Teen said he swerved to avoid a car, but later admitted speed was behind the fatal crash.
Defence says years of claimed assaults 'never happened'
Judge reserves decision in three-day family violence trial.
Withdrawal of lawyers pauses meth importation trial
Crown due to continue its case on Monday, after defence lawyers were allowed to withdraw.
Pair grew $90,000 of cannabis in rented warehouse
Home detention has been granted for growing cannabis crops over seven months.
Boys say they were beaten bloody by stepmother
Boys allege regular assaults, but defence says their account is made up.
$160,000 cash found during police search, trial told
Sami Zagros has already admitted importing drugs, but the Crown alleges more offending.