A man has been convicted of harassing his partner after referencing the Invercargill case of a police officer who shot his estranged wife.
The 53-year-old was found guilty of the charge and another of trespass at a judge-alone trial in June and appeared this week in the Dunedin District Court, where he was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and six months’ supervision.
The animosity between the defendant and his wife erupted after they separated in mid-2014.
She continued to live in their Ranfurly home and a dispute arose over the relationship property.
Judge Michael Turner said that stoush was ongoing but the house was now on the market and he suppressed the name of the man to avoid upsetting a potential sale.
Tensions continually bubbled during 2017, resulting in the defendant leaving the victim a series of vitriolic phone messages, including one on March 19 filled with expletives.
In another four months later he said: "When it comes to court you’re going to be up against it; firing squad. At least I’m not a cop who wanted to go and kill his missus."
The judge said the reference to the case of Invercargill Constable Ben McLean, who killed his wife Verity and tried to kill her new partner, made the woman feel particularly unsafe.
The Southland murder had happened the previous week.
The court heard the man’s abusive phone rants also extended to his wife’s new terminally-ill partner.
"You made it clear you were keeping tabs on her movements or following her," Judge Turner said.
Defence counsel John Westgate said his client had moved on with a new relationship and attitude to match.
But the judge was sceptical.
He cited a Probation report and one from a psychiatrist which showed the defendant had no insight into the harm he had caused.
"It troubles me you have no understanding of your behaviour and its consequences," Judge Turner said.
"I don’t consider any genuine remorse exists."
The man claimed he was not a violent person but the judge said that was refuted by his previous convictions for assault.
Despite being on the verge of bankruptcy, the defendant had recently completed a business degree and planned to travel overseas, the court heard.
A protection order was granted in favour of the victim.
