Lilybing Sentencing – Missing Ex-All Black Sought In Oz – Lytellton Picket Death Sentencing – Teina Stace Sentencing – Ansett Plane Crash Cell Phone Call – Tauranga Murder – Youth Crime Survey – Moriori Report – On Energy Price Rise – Vitamin C Warning
LILYBING SENTENCING: Two women were jailed today over the death of Wairarapa toddler Lilybing. Judge Durie said the two women had a responsibility to look after the child. One woman was jailed for six years, another for two years. Police say that the two women have maintained a code of silence over the involvement of others in the death. The head of Women’s Refuge says the women should speak out on who else abused the toddler. The case has taken a toll on the police that investigated the death.
MISSING EX-ALL BLACK: Australian police are searching for former All Black Keith Murdoch who they say has information relating to the death of a 20-year-old Aboriginal man. He was supposed to give evidence at a coroners inquest. But he didn’t turn up. Murdoch’s last test was in Wales in the 1970s, after scoring the winning try he punched out a hotel staff member, and was then sent home.
LYTELLTON PICKET DEATH SENTENCING: The man who ran over and killed a woman on a Lytellton picket line has escaped a jail sentence for manslaughter. Mr Powell was sentenced to nine months periodic detention, and was disqualified from driving for two years, for the killing of Christin Clark. Mr Powell claimed picketers attacked him through the car window.
TEINA STACE SENTENCING: Teina Stace has been sentenced for dangerous driving in relation to a crash in which she drove her boyfriend Jonah Lomu’s car off a cliff.
ANSETT PLANE CRASH CELLPHONE CALL: Police are investigating whether a cell-phone call may have contributed to the crash of Ansett Flight 703 on approach to Palmerston North airport. A former Ansett staff member says she received a call from a woman distraught after receiving a call from her son who was on the flight.
TAURANGA MURDER: A probation service worker in Tauranga has been stabbed to death in his home in front of his wife this morning at 5am. Police have recovered two knives from the scene of the attack. Police say it was a particularly vicious stabbing attack. Police say it was a home invasion. More than 30 police are working on the inquiry.
YOUTH CRIME SURVEY: A new crime survey released today shows that most young offenders re-offend.
MORIORI REPORT: The Waitangi Tribunal has released a report into the Moriori saying the crown should have stepped in to stop Maori invading the Chatham Islands. The Chatham Islands were invaded in 1835. The 1600 Moriori were enslaved. The government did not respond to a call for assistance in 1862.
ON ENERGY PRICE RISE: On Energy is putting up electricity prices by around 10%.
VITAMIN C MAY BE DANGEROUS: Research in the US has found that having too much vitamin C may damage DNA and make people vulnerable to cancer. The research finds that vitamin C reacts with fats creating a substance that is toxic to DNA. Evidence of whether vitamin C works to prevent common colds is thin. Vitamin C was promoted by a Nobel prize winner.