KEY POINTS:
A judge yesterday voiced his concerns for two children who were living in a house that became the centre of an armed offenders call-out.
Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber noted that one of the children had pointed out as the armed police closed in on the house that they were carrying rifles "like their father's".
The father, Eugene Jack Ewart, was jailed for 2 1/2 years, and the mother, 30-year-old Simone Jeffries, was ordered to do 200 hours of community work.
Judge Erber told her: "This is no way to bring up children. The atmosphere in the home is thoroughly unsatisfactory. It is leading you into serious criminal behaviour.
"You will have to adjust your behaviour and your acquaintances unless you are to find yourself at Paparua Women's Prison for a significant term."
The incident happened at 1.30pm on December 30 at their Riccarton home, when Ewart took a rifle next door to confront a neighbour in a dispute over a car.
The armed offenders squad were called out and explosives were found when they searched the property. In the meantime, Jeffries had taken the rifle and hidden it at another property and it was not found until six months later. She eventually pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
Ewart, a 29-year-old motorcycle mechanic, was appearing for sentence on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and explosives.
The judge noted that Ewart had been a heroin addict since birth since both his parents were addicts. He had been in regular employment until three years ago and was now in poor health.
He told Jeffries: "Your natural instinct to help your husband can be understood. On the other hand, the suppression of evidence of this sort is a serious matter."
- NZPA
