An unemployed teen has been charged with the murder of Barbara Julian, 70, who died in what police said was a brutal home invasion.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man died when a drinking session dissolved into violence early today.

Jurors in a murder trial were not told the 'principal offender' was a member of the Head Hunters gang with more than 50 convictions.

The man accused of intentionally infecting men and women with HIV could be forced to give a DNA sample.

The killing of retired Opotiki school teacher John Rowe by two teenagers was 'savage and calculated'.

New figures show a sharp increase in the number of violent offenders escaping without criminal conviction.

Double-killer Graeme Burton got a free titanium artificial leg from ACC to replace the right leg lost during a shooting rampage two years ago.

The father of murder victim Sophie Elliott was forced to read a heavily censored version of his victim impact statement to her killer in court.