Judge faces vandalism charge for car damage

Michael Lance. Photo / Northern Advocate

One of the country's most experienced district court judges is facing a criminal charge after allegedly vandalising a car with a set of keys.

Judge Michael Lance would normally sit at the bench in the North Shore District Court but yesterday he was charged in the court with the wilful damage of a vehicle parked across the driveway of his $1 million North Shore apartment in March.

His lawyer, John Haigh, QC, confirmed that the judge, a former deputy head of the old Police Complaints Authority, would defend the allegation at a hearing next March.

Judicial spokesman Neil Billington declined to comment on the charge but said Judge Lance was retired.

He had been sitting as a judge with an acting judicial warrant, but that expired this year.

The charge was laid after the police investigation focused on whether the judge intentionally used a key to scratch the Volkswagen Golf allegedly more than 20 times around lunchtime.

The damage was photographed by officers and forensically examined.

Owner Richard Cummins said $4000 of damage was done to the car. The repairs were covered by insurance, but Mr Cummins was left to pay his policy's $400 excess.

The Auckland businessman was unaware the charge had been laid against the 73-year-old Judge Lance until the Weekend Herald told him yesterday.

He declined to comment further as the matter was before the courts, but appreciated the police investigating so thoroughly.

"I'm pleased the police didn't turn a blind eye," Mr Cummins said.

Detective Inspector Bruce Scott led the investigation and the decision to lay the charge against such a prominent member of society was vetted by Crown Law and police national headquarters in Wellington.

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson was briefed on the investigation and Chief District Court Judge Russell Johnson was also aware of the alleged incident.

Judge Lance was interviewed by police, as was a witness who had been having lunch on the footpath when the incident took place and two constables who intervened.

The charge of wilful damage has a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment or a $2000 fine.

Judge Lance graduated with a law degree in 1960 and 30 years later was appointed a district court judge, specialising in criminal jury trials.

He was appointed deputy to the then Police Complaints Authority but later returned to the bench with an acting judicial warrant.

In 2007, Judge Lance made controversial comments in sentencing Lion Man Craig Busch, who was convicted of two charges of assaulting his former partner Karen Greybrook, after finding her in bed with a naked married couple.

Ms Greybrook suffered a cut head, bruising and a lumbar fracture during Busch's attack.

Judge Lance said the situation that Busch confronted must have been "traumatic in the extreme", and while no excuse for his violence, his anger was "human and understandable".

He has presided over a number of high-profile cases, including the acquittal of police officer Tim Ogle on a charge of rape.

In 2005, Judge Lance directed a jury to find Kawakawa farmer Paul McIntyre not guilty of discharging a shotgun after he shot and injured an intruder he caught trying to steal his farm bike.