Judge scathing of delays
Judge scathing of delays
A Dunedin judge has given a scathing assessment of the region's mental health services after hearing they were so busy it would take 10 weeks to prepare a report.
Rob Kidd
Community wounded by killing
Community wounded by killing
More than 18 months after Stephen Findlay bashed his neighbour Sharon Comerford to death, the Seacliff community is still picking up the pieces.
Artistic expression posed no threat, judge rules
Artistic expression posed no threat, judge rules
A Dunedin musician whose poetry shut down Dunedin’s CBD and caused the bomb squad to be called in has been cleared of criminal culpability.
Man found not guilty over bomb scare
Man found not guilty over bomb scare
A Dunedin musician has been cleared of criminal offending after a note he posted on a disused building was seen as a bomb threat and caused the CBD to be shut down.
Crime spree costs victims over $100,000
Crime spree costs victims over $100,000
A 10-month rampage around the South Island, causing "wanton" destruction and stealing vehicles, cost the victims of Clay Michael Harris more than $100,000.
Community sentences for starting brawl
Community sentences for starting brawl
A Dunedin man who started a brawl in the Octagon by spitting at his victim and punching him unconscious has been sentenced.
Haunted by unanswered call
Haunted by unanswered phone call
The day before Stephen Findlay beat his neighbour to death with a blunt object, he tried to speak to his daughter.
'Everyone has their breaking point': daughter
'Everyone has their breaking point': killer's daughter
The children of a Seacliff man who beat his neighbour to death have described him as the most placid person they know.
Seacliff man jailed for 'brutal' killing of neighbour
Seacliff man jailed for 'brutal' killing of neighbour
A 60-year-old Seacliff man has been jailed for at least 11 years for “brutally” bludgeoning his neighbour to death.
Arrest a blessing: scholarship student
Arrest a blessing: scholarship student
A scholarship student says his arrest on drug charges has been a "blessing in disguise''.
Jailed fugitive fails in sentence appeal
Jailed fugitive fails in sentence appeal
A Dunedin man who spent months on the run before ramming a police car and being bitten by a dog has failed in his appeal.
Abusing 111 phone line ends in five months’ jail
Abusing 111 phone line ends in five months’ jail
A three-day drinking binge has led to a Dunedin man being jailed for repeatedly calling the emergency services phone line.
Shoplifting with children ‘brazen’
Shoplifting with children ‘brazen’
A Dunedin woman’s decision to take her two children on a shoplifting outing has been blasted by a judge.
Initiation’s brutality revealed
Initiation’s brutality revealed
A recent Dunedin District Court case has exposed a violent gang initiation ritual taking place behind bars.
Ex-addict jailed over domestic violence
Ex-addict jailed over domestic violence
A former synthetic cannabis drug addict has been convicted for assaulting his ex-partner and threatening a person with a golf club when they tried to help.
Man’s hand on her thigh felt ‘yucky’, girl says
Man’s hand on her thigh felt ‘yucky’, girl says
A Christchurch man has been ordered to undertake therapy after grabbing a 7-year-old girl at a Central Otago school-holiday programme.
Level of offending ‘out of character’ — judge
Level of offending ‘out of character’ — judge
A Milton man spat chewed-up chocolate balls at his partner after breaking two of her fingers, a court has heard.
Man who attacked partner allowed to drive school bus
Man who attacked partner allowed to drive school bus
A man who attacked his partner has been sentenced to community detention and will now be able to drive a school bus, a court has heard.
'Now we can get on with our lives'
'Now we can get on with our lives'
Members of the Seacliff community say they can ''get on with our lives'' after a 60-year-old man admitted beating his neighbour to death.
Community detention for harassment
Community detention for harassment
A Dunedin man referenced the Rambo movies and threatened to ''burn Dunedin to the ground'' when social services lost one of his kids, a court has heard.