Napier siege gunman's partner admits fraud

Delwyn Keefe, the partner of Jan Molenaar, at the coroner's inquest into the deaths of Senior Constable Leonard Snee and Jan Molenaar in 2009. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

The partner of Napier siege gunman Jan Molenaar will be sentenced next month on 16 charges relating to benefit fraud.

Delwyn Keefe pleaded guilty in Napier District Court today to using a document to obtain pecuniary advantage, relating to benefit overpayments of $130,000 made to her l999 and 2007.

The 45-year-old was released from prison last September after serving nine months of a two years and three months jail sentence for selling cannabis, possession and offering to supply the drug.

Those charges arose from her involvement in Molenaar's cannabis-growing operation in the Chaucer Road house in Napier where Molenaar killed one police officer and seriously injured two others and a civilian early in May 2009.

He took his own life at the end of a three-day siege.

The benefit fraud was committed before the fatal siege, Judge Bridget Macintosh was told in Napier District Court today.

The judge said Keefe was "right on the edge" as far as another prison term was concerned but Keefe's counsel, Letizea Ord, argued that there were mitigating factors, including an early plea, that brought her client within the sentencing range for home detention.

She said a preliminary psychiatric report indicated complex post-traumatic stress relating to the siege and Molenaar's death, and there would be a further report to the court on the nature of the relationship she had with Molenaar

Judge Macintosh said home detention would be a sentencing option indicating it would be "substantial" if that was the outcome.

She remanded Keefe on continued bail until March 25.

- NZPA