Ric Stevens is a Multimedia Journalist specialising in Open Justice reporting at Hawke's Bay Today.
I have worked in journalism for about 40 years, including as a political reporter at Parliament and in senior roles at a number of daily newspapers. In the course of my career I have met 10 prime ministers and covered topics as diverse as riots, earthquakes and murder trials, among many other things. I stepped aside from daily journalism for a while in 2016 to complete a master's degree and then found myself working for four years on the front line of the criminal justice system, as a probation officer. This has helped inform my current reporting on crime and justice. I was delighted to be able to come back to journalism as a member of NZME's Open Justice team in 2022.
Man accused of murdering Hawke's Bay teenager Ariki Rigby loses suppression
Jimmy Heremaia is being held at his own request in the segregation unit of a prison.
'Pervasive deficits': Oranga Tamariki's practice under the microscope in baby's death
Oranga Tamariki staff incorrectly handled concerns reported to them, a coroner found.
Terrified woman jumped naked from upper-storey window to escape brutal attack
Part of the ordeal, carried out by other women, was filmed and posted on social media.
'He has lost his profession': Former doctor faces reality of anti-vaccine stance
Judge: Eye surgeon could have stopped practising but chose to try to bend the rules.
Fatal distraction: The Snapchatting truckie's countdown to tragedy
Caleb Baker was killed after distracted truck driver Sarah Schmidt ploughed into him.
Driver sent 45 Snapchat messages before fatally ploughing into young man's ute
'She should have seen the traffic ... what she did see for 14 seconds is her phone.'
'An ethical dilemma': 30-year medical career ended by Covid vaccine stance
Doctor tried to keep practising under Māori customary law.
Year-long wait for trial in Ariki Rigby murder case
Justice Karen Grau acknowledged emotions were 'very raw' for victim's family.
'Waste of a life': Heartbroken mum's warnings after son's preventable death
Speeding driver Raymond Tairua-Gray drowned after his unsafe car crashed into a creek.
Old photos and videos help convict 'sick and twisted' child rapist
Woman abused as little girl confronts abuser in court.
Duck-stomping prison inmate Eruera Peratiaki makes $1000 donation to the SPCA
Eruera Peratiaki threw apple at duck, chased it, kicked it and stomped on its head.
'Severe and chronic neglect:' Miniature horses were dehydrated and unable to walk properly
Two women who owned them are now banned from owning horses for five years.
Boy, 9, comes to father's aid in violent Mongrel Mob 'hit'
'This is a hit and it's come from the captain,' victim told before he was attacked.
Dad wanting to leave gang told it would cost him $20k - or his ute
The man was then assaulted before locking himself, his pregnant wife and kids in a room.
Police officer's kick to armed burglar's head deemed justified
The burglar had held the police dog's jaws shut with both hands.
Prominent artist with 'whimsical' energy was dealing in LSD and other drugs
Dali Susanton even took police to a place where magic mushrooms grow.
Teen driver in double fatal crash was 'very sensible and experienced' for his age
Joshua van Hooijdonk and Maja Sanders died in a crash on SH5, near Te Pōhue, in 2020.
Crown nets cannabis dealer, and now it's after her house
Police looked for 'buried money' but it meant the cash had been spent on renovations.
‘National disgrace’: NZ’s landmark Abuse in Care inquiry finds 200,000 harmed
The 3000-page report calls for apologies, redress and police investigations.
Former lauded Corrections staffer jailed for pressuring boyfriend's rape victim
Former Muldoon secretary and probation officer became involved with 'serious criminal'.
Man who scaled courtroom barrier to attack relative's murderer admits guilt
Arohaina Henare was stabbed to death by Moses Mohi Taua in 2022.
Hefty costs order leaves sour taste in mouth of anti-fluoridation group
Court case was in the public interest - campaigners says costs ruling 'really unfair'.
'Justice for a young victim:' Guilty verdicts in ram raid, kidnap and rape case
Police: 'She’s shown a tremendous amount of courage to come forward and make a complaint.'
Man accused of ram-raid, teen rape and kidnap claims it's all 'lies'
Crown: 'Does it make any sense that she should make up false allegations about him?'
Unregistered anti-vax doctor kept practising under 'Māori customary law'
A pharmacy contacted the Medical Council after receiving prescriptions from the doctor.
Man charged with ram-raid and rape calls victim's relative a 'compulsive liar'
The man says he's got an alibi: 'It would be impossible for me to commit these offences'.
Family cannabis business: Daughter was boss, mum did deliveries, dad kept the accounts
'Blood is thicker than common sense,' says defence lawyer.
'48-hour nightmare': Teen allegedly kidnapped, raped after $20k ATM heist
Now a father and son are on trial together in the High Court at Napier.
Police eavesdrop on private communications to bust meth ring
Bishop associated with Brydon Boyce, who had meth in his system at time of fatal crash.
Woman's crucial role as mule for a jailhouse drug ring
When Freedom Walker visited her partner in jail, she took meth and cannabis with her.
Ex-con supplied pistols to criminal underworld shortly before gun crime spiked
Police say they have intercepted numerous Alfa Carbines cut down to hand guns.
Youth crime: A teen robber’s two-year trail of $190k mayhem revealed
Teenagers netted $140,000 of watches, rings and medallions in 45-second raid.
School worker, charged with indecency, told to surrender passport
Man remanded on bail to appear in the Hastings court again on July 2.
Terrorised, battered woman was tied up and left on a bed - then she smelled smoke
Recidivist offender's chilling words: 'I can't let you go because you'll nark.'
Anti-fluoride group loses High Court bid to stop Hastings council adding fluoride to water
Fluoridation in Hastings water recommenced on April 8, 2024.
Retailer Crackerjack fined for selling children’s nightware that breached fire safety label rules
Prosecution followed inspection which found non-compliant sleepware in Napier store.
Two more jail terms after seven-on-one gang-related prison assault
The attack was captured on the prison’s CCTV.
'You owe these people': Online scammer will take 11 years to repay his victims $8700
Paul Sutton can only afford to make repayments of $15 a week.
Kathleen Kawana death: Police claim she was murdered in Hastings
The murder-accused has been remanded in custody and has name suppression.
'Holy s***!': Violent gang member reacts as he learns how long his jail term is
Victims included an innocent householder, a prison guard, a policewoman and two inmates.
Mother of kidnapped girls: 'He has taken away innocence of childhood'
One girl who ran to escape returned to help her sister.
'Extreme and prolonged violence': Man punched, kicked as he lay prone on prison floor
Review by prison inspectorate is under way after gang-related assault.
Two axehead-shaped holes in front doors of courthouse, hearings delayed
Jurors and lawyers waited outside while broken glass was cleared away.
Callous, uncaring man 'became criminal' during sex with young woman
Woman did not know two men who picked her up and took her to a motel.
Mother ‘totally shattered’ after son beaten to death by Mongrel Mob associates
Police thank people who provided information as gang associates are sent to jail.
How one victim tracked down a burglar on a crime spree
A set of keys with a GPS fob attached was one of the items Layna Brown stole.
Hastings council fined after 200 cubic metres of wastewater spills onto highway
Court told Hastings council has had 25 other breaches since 2019.
Motorcyclist dies after unlicensed driver runs him over, then flees
Family's lives 'achingly quiet' after loved one's death, daughter tells court.
'Put down': Violent inmate stomps on duck after it landed in prison yard
The prisoner was charged with attacking the bird, which had to be put down.
Slain Mob boss had $230k in car when police busted meth-dealing ring
Daniel Eliu was shot dead outside a South Auckland church.
Girl foils sex offender by using his phone to save evidence and summon help
Stephen Wayne Beattie hid phone in girl's bedroom to make videos of her.
Man makes an obscenity-laden TikTok about victims after being released from prison
Stephen Elliot was originally jailed for assaulting them in a Salvation Army store.
'Gang overtones': Terrified occupants saw taser sparking in the dark as trio tried to break in
One of the victims has moved away, still fearful of the Black Power associates.
Some weeks their pay packets were empty - now they've triggered a court case over low pay
RSE pay deduction issues are likely to 'resonate' throughout NZ, lawyer tells court.
Man accused of murder of Javon Aranui named
Name suppression continues for a second man charged with murder.
Former Napier mortgage broker sentenced for falsifying loan applications
Natalie Ann Carter applied for seven loans totaling nearly $3 million.
'Catastrophic': Banned driver sped from cops before crashing into photographers
The forbidden driver who had earlier sped away from police faced several charges.
Man settles down, starts a family, then finds out Australia wants to extradite him
The man had travelled to and from Australia several times without challenge.
Packed public gallery supports two charged with Javon Aranui's murder
Judge grants interim name suppression to protect the two men’s fair trial rights.
Man says drugs were for own use - his safe password suggested otherwise
Drug seller claims money was from orchard work, building and pokies.
Miscarriage of justice: Boy, 15, spent nearly a year in adult prison
Mistake deemed a miscarriage of justice in first Criminal Cases Review Commission result.
Kmart robber was asked for receipt - so he pulled out a knife
“Do you want me to use this on you?” Satwinder Singh asked the employee.
'Feared for his life': Gang member robbed man after being out of jail for just a week
Hagen Henare had earlier been involved in kidnapping a woman for a gang boss.
Truck driver who refused Covid jab gets $29k for wrongful dismissal
Wayne Basher spent most of his working time alone in his cab.
Two teens charged with taking man's car and ram-raiding dairy
Teenage pair charged jointly with aggravated robbery, burglary and wilful damage.
'Spiritual' feeling of relief after disgraced former MP quits disputed property after 37 years
Property vacated after protracted battle in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Man on $100k meth shopping spree used child's sickness to dodge Covid checkpoints
Little did he know, police had placed a listening device in one of his associate's homes.
Beneficiary busted with $16,500 - police seize cash under crime-proceeds law
John Te Aho, who has drug-dealing history, made 85 bank deposits totalling $117,000.
Mob associate laughed during fatal attack on Hawke's Bay teacher
Keontay Chadwick pleads guilty to Darcy Strickland's manslaughter.
Eight charged in crackdown on pokie machine 'corruption'
The offending gives the gambling sector a bad name, says Internal Affairs.
Teen sportsman's 'horrific' accident: Meat works fails to overturn $280k fine and conviction
Workplace accident ended young man's dream of playing sport overseas.
The Mob captain, the gambler and the prison ring controlled by a phone hidden in a toilet
More than 300 texts and 450 calls were made to smuggle drugs into prison.
'If you scream, I will stab you': Kidnapper threatened girls with screwdriver
The girls were not physically hurt but were emotionally traumatised after escaping.
What kids who commit serious crimes have in common
Haami Hanara, who was neglected and abused, knifed a man to death when he was 14.
Real estate agent wins court dispute over commission on $6.6m sale
Station was sold between brothers' trusts in a "family arrangement".
Brothers sentenced after attacking mum's murderer in court
The teenage twin brothers had never been in trouble with the courts before.