Cop killer admits benefit fraud

Constable Peter Umbers (pictured) was bashed with his own baton by Richard Thomas Lakich. The cop killer and life-long parolee has now pleaded guilty to benefit fraud. Photo / ODT

Life parolee Richard Thomas Lakich, who pleaded guilty to the murder of a policeman 20 years ago, has now admitted benefit fraud totalling about $3000 and is on remand awaiting sentence.

Lakich, who is in very poor health, pleaded guilty to two benefit fraud charges in the Christchurch District Court before a scheduled trial. He was discharged on a third charge of misleading a social welfare officer.

Judge Michael Crosbie convicted and remanded him on bail for sentence on March 17 and called for a pre-sentence report to assess his suitability for home or community detention.

His partner, Catherine Wallis, had pleaded guilty to four charges on July 8, admitting hiding the nature of a relationship while on the domestic purposes benefit.

Her benefit fraud offending resulted in an overpayment of $33,445 and she was sentenced to four months community detention and 150 hours of community work.

Lakich was facing related charges at the same time but pleaded not guilty. He changed his plea and admitted the charges on Friday.

Twenty years ago, Lakich pleaded guilty to the murder of Senior Constable Peter Umbers who was bashed with his own baton and died on May 27, 1990. He had confronted 19-year-old Lakich at Ranfurly, Central Otago, about a robbery at a hotel where the teenager held the proprietors at gunpoint.

Lakich was released from prison on parole in 2004 and lived in Kaiapoi, north of Christchurch. A news report later said he was in ill health and would need a new heart, but it was reported he would not put himself on the transplant list because he did not "deserve it".

- NZPA