Stories by Anneke Smith
News
Woman given 14-day jail sentence for escaping isolation facility
The woman and her three children escaped from an isolation facility in Hamilton so they could attend a tangi.
Whangārei man pleads not guilty to murder
A man has denied murdering a man in Whenuapai at the start of the month.
Court takes stringent approach to mosque gunman's sentencing
The man responsible for the 15 March terror attacks will be sentenced at a hearing that begins in the High Court in Christchurch today.
Comancheros gang member pleads guilty to organised crime charge
Another member of the Comancheros motorcycle gang has admitted his role in an organised crime group.
New coroners yet to ease backlog of thousands of cases
The appointment of eight relief coroners is yet to ease a backlog of cases as grieving families wait up to six years for closure.
Covid-19: Pacific health leader warns 'recipe for really bad outbreak is there'
Pasifika health leaders fear a 'wildfire' outbreak of Covid-19 in the Pacific community if the government doesn't act fast. Audio
Man accused of murdering Constable Matthew Hunt loses name suppression
The man accused of murdering Constable Matthew Hunt can be named for the first time, although no photos of the accused can be published.
Comanchero arrests: Fonua pleads guilty to organised crime charges
A man arrested after police raided the Comanchero motorcycle gang has admitted his role in an organised crime group.
Jury deliberates in retrial of former teacher accused of abuse
The jury has retired to deliberate in the trial of a former Auckland school teacher accused of abusing six teenage boys.
Millane murderer's appeal: Lawyer focuses on consent
The lawyer acting for the man convicted of Grace Millane's murder focused on the issue of consent today at the appeal hearing of his conviction and sentence.
Man who murdered Grace Millane did not get fair trial, lawyer argues
The lawyer said the appeal did not seek to condone the man's "inexcusable" actions, it was about whether the trial process was miscarried.
Grace Millane murderer's conviction, sentence appeal begins
The man who murdered Grace Millane is back in court this morning to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Boys give statement in former teacher's abuse trial
The trial of a former school teacher accused of abusing teenage boys has now heard from three of the boys at the centre of the case.
Retrial begins for former teacher accused of abusing boys
A lawyer representing former Auckland school teacher Benjamin Swann, who is accused of abusing six teenage boys, says his client is innocent.
Govt announces $50 million package to help ease backlog in courts
The government has pulled $50 million from the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund to ease backlog in the justice system.
Defence lawyers call for urgent review of Covid-19 prosecutions
Defence lawyers are worried the already backlogged district courts will be overwhelmed if police pursue all Covid-19 prosecutions.
Defence Force pleads guilty over death of sailor
Zachary Yarwood, 23, died in hospital after a night-time dive at the Devonport Naval Base in March last year.
Woman charged over killing of PC Matthew Hunt named
A woman charged in relation to the death of Constable Matthew Hunt can now be named.
Auckland police shooting: Pair keep names secret for now
The pair are charged in relation to the death of Constable Matthew Hunt in West Auckland last month.
Newstalk ZB payout to fund Māori Party election campaign
A settlement payout over defamatory claims Mike Hosking made on air about John Tamihere will help fund the Māori Party's election campaign.
Pandemic offers courts 'once in a lifetime' chance for overhaul
Significant changes are afoot in the country's largest and busiest court as a special group finalises its recommendations to make the justice system more efficient.
Judge questions legal basis for compassionate exemptions ban
A judge has questioned the legality of the government's ban on managed isolation exemptions after a man was denied the chance to farewell his dying father.
Jami-Lee Ross appears in court ahead of electoral fraud trial
A trial date for former National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross and three businessman has been set.
Renewed call for Key to apologise over 'jihadi brides' claim
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it's not her place to decide if Sir John Key should apologise over false claims brides were leaving New Zealand for ISIS in 2015.
Team NZ and NZME go head-to-head in court
A stoush over whether a report into the financial management of America's Cup should be publicised has been heard in the High Court.