Police cars are standing guard outside Beijing schools this week in an attempt to stop deadly assaults on students.

A lawyer representing murder accused Patricia Pickering told a court that charges brought against her were "one big, terrible mistake."

A murder suspect reacted angrily when asked if he was behind the hit-and-run death of businesswoman Joanne Wang.

Sydney police now believe the murder of New Zealand-born nurse Michelle Beets as she arrived home last week was planned and that robbery was not the motive.

A teenager needed two rows of stitches and a steel plate to repair his shattered jaw after being beaten over the colour of his T-shirt.

The mother of three NZ children shot dead by their father broke her silence as they were laid to rest at their ancestral marae.

Police investigating the murder of the Kahui twins showed "errors of judgment" but a lawyer acting for father Chris said she did not want to "put the boot in."

Clues at a toilet block near slain nurse Michelle Beets' home have opened up a new line of investigation.

A man originally charged with dangerous driving over a fatal crash on Auckland's North Shore has now been charged with manslaughter.

Police investigating the murder of the Kahui twins showed "errors of judgment" and did not properly record evidence to the standard expected, a police watchdog says.

Two women have been jailed after they forced an 82-year-old to drive around in her own car and used her bank card to get cash.

Two armed offenders detained security guards and held customers at gunpoint while they robbed an ASB Bank branch in Auckland.