Articles in ‘Crime’

A North Shore man facing two murder charges and one charge of attempted murder can now be named after his interim name suppression lapsed. Marc Govinden is accused of murdering his parents, Raman and Rooksana Govinden, before attempting to murder his brother Andrew. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Felix Walton for RNZ. · Accused Appears in High Court · Marc Govinden appeared in person at the Auckland High Court, where Justice Mathew Downs…

The 33-year-old man fatally shot by police outside Auckland's Sylvia Park Shopping Centre was on community detention and supervision at the time of the incident. RNZ reports Hapai Otene had four previous firearms convictions, had served prison time for aggravated robbery and was facing another charge when Thursday's confrontation unfolded. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Sam Sherwood and Edward Gay for RNZ HERE · On Community Detention ·…

The Employment Court has found the Labour Inspectorate misunderstood its legal powers and wrongly excluded children from investigations into working conditions at Gloriavale. The former members are now seeking $250,000 each in damages, while their lawyer is calling for a Royal Commission into the Government's handling of the community eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Jean Edwards for RNZ HERE · Nine former members of the Gloriavale…

Philip Polkinghorne has told the Coroners Court he began deleting photographs and other material involving sex worker Madison Ashton after learning he was likely the prime suspect in his wife's death. Polkinghorne, who was acquitted of murdering Pauline Hanna in 2024, is now giving evidence under oath at the coronial inquiry examining the circumstances of her death. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Rowan Quinn, Senior Journalist for RNZ. ·…

Police say more than $800,000 in assets linked to a convicted drug-dealing operation will now be forfeited to the Crown. The case highlights the use of New Zealand's criminal proceeds legislation to strip offenders of assets believed to have been acquired through organised crime. Report by eLocal · A Wairoa couple convicted of supplying and distributing methamphetamine has been ordered to forfeit more than $800,000 in cash and assets following…

Russia has announced the arrest of one of its own citizens on allegations of espionage linked to New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). New Zealand officials have declined to comment on what they describe as potential operational matters, while cautioning against relying solely on Russian state media reports. Report by eLocal · Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has arrested a Russian citizen accused of spying for New…

The man convicted of murdering Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 22 years. In emotional victim impact statements, Fleming's family spoke of an irreplaceable loss while affirming that her legacy of service and compassion would endure. Report by eLocal · Based on reporting by Samantha Gee for RNZ. Read the original report HERE:…

New evidence recovered by an independent search team has prompted renewed questions about the death of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Melissa Casias. The discoveries have intensified calls for a more comprehensive investigation while her family continues to reject suggestions that she died by suicide. INR Report: Based on reporting by Frank Bergman for Slay News HERE. · Nearly a year after Los Alamos National Laboratory employee…

The former owner of Dunedin's Captain Cook Hotel has lodged an appeal against the prison sentence imposed after admitting paying a 15-year-old girl for sex and supplying her with drugs. The High Court has confirmed the appeal has been filed Report by eLocal · A former Dunedin hotel owner convicted of paying a 15-year-old girl for sex has appealed the prison sentence imposed earlier this month, with the High Court confirming an appeal has now…

One of the Waikato Comancheros' senior leaders has been sentenced to prison after admitting his role in a large-scale methamphetamine operation uncovered through the FBI's global Operation Trojan Shield investigation. The case marks another significant outcome from one of the world's most sophisticated organised crime investigations and follows years of legal challenges over the admissibility of encrypted communications evidence. Report by…