Stories by Anneke Smith
News
Covid-19: Man charged with attempting to infect three officers
An Auckland man has been charged with attempting to infect three police officers with Covid-19 by spitting on them.
Covid-19: Wairarapa DHB's cases all recovered now
A mayor in New Zealand's only region that has rid itself of Covid-19 says high testing rates helped stamp out the virus.
Concern over drop in number of protection orders
The number of urgent protection orders being issued has dramatically halved during the Covid-19 lockdown.
New defence law group launched
The organisation of defence lawyers - focusing on better outcomes for Māori - is particularly timely amid the Covid-19, its co-founder says.
Covid-19: Courts disrupted more than during wars - Chief Justice
Chief Justice Winkelmann said the coronavirus outbreak had caused unparalleled disruption to the courts not even seen during world wars.
Justice Venning steps down from top role
The Chief High Court judge Justice Geoffrey Venning is stepping down from the top role to return to being a full time judge.
Defendants in custody will still appear in court in lockdown
Some courts are deemed an essential service and are continuing to operate at a limited level using remote technology during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thousands of isolation breach reports crash website
A police website for reporting suspected lockdown breaches was so overrun with complaints it crashed just hours after being launched.
Courts operating at 17% capacity during lockdown
District and Youth Courts typically hear about 72,000 hearings a month, but Covid-19 protocols mean just 12,500 will be able to go ahead over the next month.
Coroner Wallace Bain known for involvement in high-profile inquests retires
Today is Rotorua Coroner Wallace Bain's last day at work after 28 years of service.
Justice system: How prisons and courts are responding to Covid-19
Court cases are being heard remotely and prisons have shut their gates to visitors as measures to combat Covid-19 ramp up.
Dead man's whānau in court for inmate's hearing on murder charge
A prisoner accused of murdering another inmate has objected to appearing via audio-visual link for a court hearing.
Police rape trial: Man found guilty of raping fellow officer
The 29-year-old police officer accused of groping his female colleague and later raping her in a Kerikeri motel as she slept has been found guilty.
Grace Millane trial: Killer appeals murder conviction and sentence
The man who murdered British backpacker Grace Millane is appealing his conviction and sentence.
Police rape trial: Crown says officer 'didn't take no for answer'
The Crown says a police officer accused of raping his colleague lied to his boss, washed himself and destroyed evidence to cover up the crime.
PTSD argument fails to get sentence reduction
Myron Felise was jailed for killing 18-year-old Eli Holtz after the teen fired a water pistol at him. He appealed his sentence, arguing PTSD and a deprived background.
Police rape trial: Accused called lawyer soon after alleged assault
The jury in the trial of a police officer accused of raping his colleague has heard the man called a lawyer he knew shortly after the alleged assault.
Extra coroners brought in to relieve backlog
Coronial services have come under strain in recent years as deaths and caseloads have steadily increased.
Police rape trial: Sergeant gives evidence
The jury in the trial of a police officer accused of raping his colleague has now heard a third version of what happened that night.
Police rape trial: Fellow officer describes conflicting accounts
A police colleague of a woman who says another officer raped her has described both parties' accounts of that night.
British man pleads guilty of possessing meth for supply
A British national arrested after a 200kg methamphetamine haul in central Auckland has pleaded guilty.
Police rape case: Female officer accused of lying to cover up cheating on partner
A defence lawyer has suggested a rape accuser was embarrassed after "hooking up" with her colleague - a policeman - and would rather label him a rapist than face up to cheating.
Policewoman accused of lying about being raped by colleague
A policewoman who says she was raped by a colleague has been accused of lying by her alleged attacker's lawyer.
Police rape trial: 'I should have been safe'
A policewoman has told a jury in the rape trial of another officer that, with other police in the motel at the time, she should have been safe from sexual assault.
Jury shown CCTV footage of cops socialising, stripping
The jury in the trial of a police officer accused of raping his colleague has watched CCTV footage of the night that shows a senior sergeant exposing himself during a night of drinking.