Latest news with #ChristchurchDistrictCourt
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Halloween horror at man's indecent act in front of teens
Ean Henry has been sentenced for masturbating in front of two teens who were trick or treating in Christchurch last year. Photo: NZ Herald A night of trick or treating turned into a Halloween horror for two young teens when a man parked his car beside them and began indecently touching himself. The girls had headed out on the evening of October 31, 2024, to doorknock homes in Christchurch as part of their Halloween celebrations. At the same time, Ean Henry, 47, was driving in Shirley when he stopped at a set of traffic lights and saw the pair walking. He turned into Warrington St and parked his vehicle. As the teens walked past, they noticed his front passenger window was down. Through the window, they saw Henry sitting in the driver's seat with no pants on and masturbating. They ran into a nearby street and took refuge in a driveway. After the police were called, Henry told officers he saw the teens and pulled his pants down. He admitted to "playing with himself" and said he wanted the girls to see him. This week, he appeared in Christchurch District Court for sentencing on doing an indecent act. At the hearing, Henry's explanation of events didn't wash with Judge Murray Hunt. "You say you acknowledge it was disgusting and that it was an out-of-body experience," the judge said. "I doubt it." Henry, who has previous convictions for similar offending, had indicated a willingness to attend restorative justice. But police said it would be too traumatising for the teens to take part, and Judge Hunt pointed out they did not wish to see Henry again. "They should not have been exposed to your behaviour," he told Henry. "It's serious that you have issues you couldn't control." However, the court heard Henry has now engaged in counselling to address those issues and has a supportive partner. He was sentenced to three months' home detention. SEXUAL HARM Where to get help: If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111. If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: • Call 0800 044 334 • Text 4334 • Email support@ • For more info or to web chat visit Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault. By Al Williams
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Indecent act on Halloween lands man home detention
Ean Henry has been sentenced for masturbating in front of two teens who were trick or treating in Christchurch last year. Photo: NZ Herald A night of trick or treating turned into a Halloween horror for two young teens when a man parked his car beside them and began indecently touching himself. The girls had headed out on the evening of October 31, 2024, to doorknock homes in Christchurch as part of their Halloween celebrations. At the same time, Ean Henry, 47, was driving in Shirley when he stopped at a set of traffic lights and saw the pair walking. He turned into Warrington St and parked his vehicle. As the teens walked past, they noticed his front passenger window was down. Through the window, they saw Henry sitting in the driver's seat with no pants on and masturbating. They ran into a nearby street and took refuge in a driveway. After the police were called, Henry told officers he saw the teens and pulled his pants down. He admitted to "playing with himself" and said he wanted the girls to see him. This week, he appeared in Christchurch District Court for sentencing on doing an indecent act. At the hearing, Henry's explanation of events didn't wash with Judge Murray Hunt. "You say you acknowledge it was disgusting and that it was an out-of-body experience," the judge said. "I doubt it." Henry, who has previous convictions for similar offending, had indicated a willingness to attend restorative justice. But police said it would be too traumatising for the teens to take part, and Judge Hunt pointed out they did not wish to see Henry again. "They should not have been exposed to your behaviour," he told Henry. "It's serious that you have issues you couldn't control." However, the court heard Henry has now engaged in counselling to address those issues and has a supportive partner. He was sentenced to three months' home detention. SEXUAL HARM Where to get help: If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111. If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: • Call 0800 044 334 • Text 4334 • Email support@ • For more info or to web chat visit Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault. By Al Williams
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Pike River survivor Daniel Rockhouse convicted after assaulting uncle at grandmother's funeral
When the West Coast mine exploded in November 2010, Rockhouse was about 1km underground. He was thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious. When he woke, he battled his way through toxic carbon monoxide fumes to reach safety. He came across workmate Russell Smith along the way and pulled him clear of the deadline mine. The pair were the only two to survive the blast. Twenty-nine other men - including Rockhouse's brother Ben - were killed. In 2015, Rockhouse was awarded a New Zealand Bravery Medal in the New Year honours for his heroic actions. Colville spoke to the Herald about the assault. He explained that before his mother died, she had requested a private funeral with only family and a couple of close friends in attendance. On the day, a number of others turned up, and Colville and another sibling approached them to advise that the service was private. Colville said Rockhouse seemed to take exception to that and 'started making a scene'. Things became 'a bit heated', and he called the police. He said that while he was on the phone, Rockhouse punched him. 'He hit me on the steps of the church, and I went down. He hit me hard, he's a big boy. I went down the steps to check my nose because I thought he might have broken it… and next thing, he hooks me one. 'I stumbled back, I was a little bit confused…. then I think he hit me another four times.' Police arrived soon after and arrested Rockhouse. Colville sustained two black eyes and a serious injury to his nose, which he says he needs to see a specialist about. Rockhouse appeared at Christchurch District Court the next day, charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship. At his second court appearance on February 21, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of common assault. Judge David Ruth convicted Rockhouse and ordered him to pay $200 to Colville for emotional harm. Colville was not in court for the sentencing. He said he had been told he 'did not need to go' by the police. 'I got a phone call from a lady from the courts saying Daniel's been in court, he's been convicted, and he's got to pay you $200,' he said. 'It made me wild. I have never been so wild in my life.' Colville wanted to attend sentencing so he could speak about the effect Rockhouse's actions had on him. 'I actually wrote a victim impact statement, thinking that's what police wanted. They weren't interested,' he said. 'They didn't want to know… I just got flogged off.' Colville slammed police and Judge Ruth, saying his nephew was given 'special treatment' and 'got away with' serious offending while he was ignored and 'shut out' of the justice process. 'Basically, they let him off. It's unbelievable. I just think it's unacceptable,' said Colville. 'It was a pretty serious incident… I didn't have a hope in hell of defending myself. And for him to get a $200 fine… is a bit of a joke. ' On April 15, the Herald made an application for Judge Ruth's sentencing notes. A response has not been received. Advertise with NZME. Colville was sent a copy of the document, spanning just two paragraphs. On the day, Judge Ruth told Rockhouse he'd read material submitted to the court from defence lawyer Kerry Cook ahead of the hearing. He did not elaborate further. 'I am generally aware, as are most people, of the problems that have faced you and your family have faced over a number of years,' the judge said. 'I have amended the charge down to (common) assault, having regard to all of the features in this case and Mr Cook's submissions. 'You are now convicted and ordered to pay $200 by way of reparation for emotional harm to the victim. That can be paid within the next 24 hours. For the various reasons I have touched upon - that is the only sentence imposed in this case.' Colville said before the assault, there had been 'no beef' between himself and Rockhouse. There had been conflict between Colville and his siblings over some family issues, but he never considered that there was any tension with his nephew. Rockhouse also noted 'longstanding family politics' in the lead-up to the assault that 'provide context to what happened'. 'These are private issues. These family issues date back years,' he told the Herald. 'The victim did not deserve to be punched… I am sorry, and I regret what happened. 'I pleaded guilty and the issue was resolved in court in February. I accepted the judge's decision and my punishment, and wish to have no further interaction with the family member involved. 'I wish to move forward with my life and put this in the past, where it belongs.' Colville said he was 'very disappointed' and felt let down by the justice system. 'He basically just got away with it. He did not need to do that sort of thing. I don't see why he should get away with what he did just because he's a Pike River survivor,' he said. 'It just shows me that when people get held up high, they can go around doing what they want. I don't think that's right. That's why I have spoken up - I want people to know this happened and that Daniel needed to pay for what he did, but he got away with it. 'The police let me down a lot... He didn't just beat me once, he hit me several times and he gets away with it. He just gets to back to Aussie and carry on.' Canterbury Metro Area Commander Inspector Lane Todd said police applied to amend Rockhouse's charge down to common assault. 'This was based on a number of factors, centred around the Solicitor General's Prosecution Guidelines. These include the likely expected sentence if convicted, the level of violence shown, and the practicalities of a trial balanced against its likely outcome,' he said. 'We are comfortable that this matter was properly assessed, and that relevant legal considerations and guidelines were followed. 'The matter was then taken through the complete court process right up to an appropriate legal resolution.' Todd was not able to substantiate Colville's claim police told him he did not need to attend court. 'However, in general, it would be unusual for a victim to attend such a hearing, and if they did, there is no ability for them to participate in it,' he said. 'It is possible that a victim in this instance may be told by the officer in charge that there was no requirement for them to attend. The decision-making process was conveyed to the victim in this case.' Todd said there were avenues available to those who want further support following the court process. 'As well as those who may wish to make a complaint,' he said. Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Christchurch schoolteacher Samuel Ramsay jailed for grooming, abusing student
By the time she was 15 they were having sex and he was encouraging her to use birth control. Today, they were both in court as the now 33-year-old was jailed for the significant breach of trust that left the woman suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as an adult. Reading her impact statement in the Christchurch District Court, the victim described how Ramsay had stolen years from her life. Those years had been replaced with shame, she said. 'I had been manipulated, he preyed on me from aged 13, he groomed me, he used his position as a teacher to manipulate an underage girl. 'Every day was just a reminder of what had been done.' The woman said she resented the world and no longer trusted anyone. She made extreme efforts to avoid anything that reminded her of the defendant. 'School was no longer a place of learning; it was where I was groomed. 'I became critically suicidal, my parents feared for my life, my family suffered too, they are victims, my relationships suffered greatly. I vowed never to speak about this, no matter how much I buried the truth, it was impossible to bury. He made her feel important Crown prosecutor Cameron Stuart said they were clearly powerful words, demonstrating the devastating impact of sexual offending on young people. He asked for a starting point of six to seven years imprisonment to reflect that. While Ramsay had not been the victim's 'direct' teacher, he had taught at the school where she was a pupil when they first started messaging on Facebook. 'Every teacher in the school has a responsibility to their students.' The summary of facts said the messaging initially started as a conversation around music tastes and school subjects. It was frequent, to the point where the victim became smitten with Ramsay as he made her feel important. The messaging slowed towards the end of 2017 and ended in early 2018, the same year Ramsay went overseas for five months. In late 2019 the victim looked him up on Facebook and reached out to him and the messaging became more frequent once again. By September 2019 Ramsay and the victim had entered into a relationship, she was 15 and he was 28. They met over a period of two weeks in a Christchurch motel room where they had sexual intercourse. Later that year they met in a designated car park near the Waimakariri River, and later at a central city motel unit, and had sex. On other occasions they socialised in Ramsay's car and at his flat where they engaged in touching and kissing. Ramsay suggested to the victim that she should start taking the contraceptive pill. The victim said no while he repeatedly raised the issue. After multiple discussions about the issue, he convinced the victim, and she obtained a script for the pill from a pharmacy. She ended the relationship soon afterwards. 'He has taken this seriously' Defence lawyer Adam Holland said his client had read the impact statement and wanted to acknowledge the harm he had caused the complainant. Holland said Ramsay deserved credit for not wanting to put the victim through the trauma of a trial. He had acknowledged the emotional and financial impact and offered reparation. Holland said Ramsay wanted the victim to know that by bringing the matter out into the open, he had been able to acknowledge 'long-standing issues'. Ramsay had been extradited back to New Zealand from Singapore in November and undergone numerous assessments. He was now estranged from his wife and his mother had moved to Singapore to support her and their infant son. Holland said Ramsay was a teacher in Christchurch for 10 years and would never be able to teach again. When the sexual relationship occurred, he wasn't teaching at the same school as the victim was attending. Holland asked that Ramsay be given a community sentence to avoid having his name on the Child Sex Offender Register. 'He has taken this seriously and wants to make sure this never happens again.' He also asked for a starting point of five years imprisonment with discounts for guilty pleas, good character, impact on family and remorse. He said a non-custodial sentence should be considered. 'If the court sends him to jail, he will be registered for the rest of his life. He doesn't pose a real risk to children; registration would be too onerous.' Judge: You were an adult, she was a child Judge Katie Elkin, in sentencing him on charges of sexual connection and committing an indecent act with a young person under 16, said there had been a breach of trust and power. With a starting point of five years and six months imprisonment, the judge applied discounts for guilty pleas, rehabilitation efforts, remorse and previous good character to reach a sentence of two years and seven months imprisonment. 'You were an adult of 28, she was a child of 15. 'You are a registerable offender, I know this is not what you had hoped for, but the law requires me to follow guidelines.' Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the HC Post, based in Whangamata. He was previously deputy editor of Cook Islands News.
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Beckenridge mystery: Man retracts allegation cousin ‘helped' missing pair in ‘complete turnaround' in court
Today, both men gave evidence in the Christchurch District Court before Coroner Marcus Elliot. In March 2015, Beckenridge, a Swedish-born helicopter pilot, broke a court order by collecting his 11-year-old stepson, Mike Zhao-Beckenridge, from his Invercargill school. A week later, Beckenridge's 4WD Volkswagen Touareg went off a cliff near Curio Bay, in Southland. When police recovered the vehicle there were no bodies, Beckenridge and Mike have been missing since. Mike's mother, Fiona Lu, is convinced her son is alive and Beckenridge, her former partner, staged the pair's deaths. She claims he did this after she moved Mike from Beckenridge's Queenstown home to Invercargill with her new partner, Peter Russell. In 2023, Coroner Marcus Elliot held an inquest into the pair's disappearance. After new evidence came to light in June 2024, Coroner Elliot called for a new hearing to assess the information. What Oliver Watson told police That new information came from Oliver Watson. He contacted police, alleging that after media reported the car had gone off the cliff, he spoke to his cousin Paul on the phone. He claimed Paul told him he 'sheltered' the pair and said: 'We helped them out and they are alive'. The court heard why Oliver did not come forward earlier. 'Oliver Watson held on to this information for over eight years before reporting to police,' Senior Constable Kenneth Patterson said. 'The explanation given for the delay being that he thought the Beckenridges would be found prior to the hearing, and he reported the information, fearing an incorrect finding was going to be reached.' Oliver told police he thought it 'odd' that Paul disclosed the information because they 'were not close'. 'After that, after he got off the phone, he told his wife what Paul has said,' Patterson said. 'Paul Watson cannot recall speaking to Oliver on the phone, but accepts he may have. 'Stephanie Watson recalls (her husband) Oliver speaking on the phone with Paul around this time and after the call ended, telling her the Beckenridges were alive.' Paul's brother John told police that Oliver Watson was 'addicted to drugs'. He said Oliver had 'a fixation with Paul's farm, believing he had some entitlement to it'. Paul told police he had never met or spoken to Beckenridge. He said Oliver's allegation was 'untrue.' Oliver Watson retracts allegations In court this morning, Oliver retracted his allegations in what Crown prosecutor Deidre Elsmore described as 'a complete turnaround'. 'At no time did he mention that the Beckenridges were alive,' he said of the phone call with his cousin in 2015. 'No... he never mentioned that... he did not say they were alive.' He said Paul stated 'don't worry, they're alright' but 'at no time did he say he helped them'. He agreed with Elsmore that the statement from Paul — a man of deep faith — might have been 'comforting' rather than an admission. 'I did think of that later... it could be interpreted that way... that could mean they are now with the Lord.' He said police took his statement at his home, and 'the whole thing turned into a social event'. He signed the statement after looking over it, but 'didn't notice' he had been recorded alleging Paul had 'helped'. He said that was 'an anomaly' and also blamed it on the police officer's handwriting. He went on to also sign a typed version of the statement. Advertise with NZME. 'Very poor on my part,' he said. 'Paul never said that... simple as that.' 'It sounds bad, it looks bad. I don't believe I even said that, but there it is.' He also retracted a claim Paul's wife and others in the Curio Bay community had been involved in 'helping' the Beckenridge's. Oliver also admitted he did not know his cousin well, that there had been some animosity between them over ownership of the family farm and that he had been on the methadone programme for 25 years after battling addictions to 'heroin and morphine'. He also retracted a claim that Paul's wife had been involved in 'helping' the Beckenridges. Paul Watson 'forgives' cousin Paul Watson did not want to question his cousin. He did want to address him in person, which Coroner Elliot allowed. 'As a Christian, I totally forgive you for all this... and wish you a very, very good, happy life. That's all I've got to say,' he said. A teary Oliver responded: 'If I put you through stress, I'm so sorry... thank you, Paul.' Paul — a retired farmer and pastor — was still called to give evidence. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. He said Oliver's claims were 'completely untrue'. 'Helping John Beckenridge would make me complicit with this crime, and I would not do that. 'I have never met or seen John Beckenridge in person. I believe this allegation is motivated by Oliver's belief that he had some form of entitlement to my farm property.' Paul told the court Oliver had come up with a 'scheme' to move onto the farm. 'The message became quite threatening and nasty along the lines of 'if you don't do what I'm saying, it won't end well for you',' Paul said. He said the allegation came soon after his last contact with Oliver. 'I do not wish to have any further contact with him,' he said. Rebekah Jordan, counsel assisting the Coroner, yesterday reminded the court why the hearing was being held. It was not an inquest, she said. Rather, it was to 'assist the coroner in determining whether there is jurisdiction to open an inquiry'. 'The main issue is whether it is likely that Mike and John Beckenridge are dead,' she said. Yesterday, an independent engineering expert spoke to the court about whether it would have been possible for Beckenridge's vehicle to have been sent off the cliff with no driver. The hearing is now complete. The Coroner has given parties two weeks to make further submissions before any further decisions are made. To date, police have had 60 suspected sightings of the Beckenridges or their vehicle, some of which have been eliminated or deemed. Information about possible sightings continues to be reported nationally and from Kiwis overseas.
