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RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
David Tamihere case goes to the Supreme Court
David Tamihere in 2017. Photo: RNZ Lawyers for double convicted murderer David Tamihere are in the country's highest court today, questioning whether his convictions should have been quashed. It is the latest chapter for Tamihere, who was convicted in December 1990 of murdering Swedish tourists Sven Urban Höglin, 23 and Heidi Birgitta Paakkonen, 21. They disappeared while tramping in dense bush in the Coromandel Peninsula the previous year. Tamihere served more than 20 years of a life sentence in prison before being released on parole in 2010. He has always denied even meeting the pair and there have been lingering questions around the convictions. In 2020 the then-Governor-General, on advice from former Justice Minister Andrew Little, granted Tamihere a rare Royal Prerogative of Mercy. The case was referred back to the Court of Appeal to rule on whether there may have been a miscarriage of justice. That court, in July last year, found there was - but upheld Tamihere's murder convictions because there was evidence beyond reasonable doubt he murdered the tourists. This, in turn, was appealed to the Supreme Court which is hearing the case now. The Supreme Court is normally based in Wellington but five Supreme Court judges will hear the case at the largest courtroom at the High Court in Auckland. It is the final appeal court in the country and only hears appeals if it earlier grants leave for this. That leave was issued just before Christmas and the case will centre on one approved question of whether the Court of Appeal was right to not exercise its jurisdiction under the Crimes Act to quash Tamihere's two murder convictions. When they granted leave, Supreme Court judges indicated particular interest in hearing submissions on whether Tamihere's trial was unfair, and if there was a fundamental error. They are also interested in hearing if the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the convictions. The judges are Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann, Justice Williams, Justice Glazebrook, Justice France and Justice Kós. Tamihere will be represented by his long-time lawyer, Murray Gibson as well as James Carruthers. The case is set down for three days. Arguments were made in the Court of Appeal that evidence from a jail-house snitch should never have been put to the jury at trial. Tamihere's lawyer James Carruthers said the false evidence undermined the Crown's case. The evidence was from "Witness C", Roberto Conchie Harris, revealed in 2018 as a secret informant. Harris said Tamihere confessed to the murders, but was privately prosecuted in 2017 and found guilty of eight counts of perjury over his evidence. The Crown case at the original trial was that Tamihere was living in the bush when he murdered the couple near Crosbies Clearing north of Thames. It partly relied on Harris' evidence that Tamihere disclosed he had almost been "sprung" by "a couple" while he was in the bush with Paakkonen. That account tended to back up evidence from two trampers who identified Tamihere as a man they encountered at Crosbies Clearing with a young woman. Harris also said Tamihere confessed to sexually abusing both tourists, before murdering them and dumping their bodies at sea. But Höglin's remains were found by pig hungers near Whangamatā two years after he was charged, more than 70km from where the Crown said the murders happened. Tamihere's lawyer argued that made it impossible for Tamihere to have disposed of the body the same afternoon he was allegedly seen with Paakkonen by the trampers. Höglin was still wearing the watch police claimed Tamihere had stolen and given to his son. The three Court of Appeal judges found Harris' evidence in the trial may have affected the jury's verdicts and so amounted to a miscarriage of justice. But they said this did not justify setting aside Tamihere's convictions. Their almost 90-page long ruling said other evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt it was Tamihere who murdered Höglin and Paakkonen. This included evidence that was not heard by the jury in the first trial but heard at the appeal. Their ruling highlighted: "It cannot be known exactly what happened to Ms Paakkonen, but the Court found the evidence consistent with a sequence of events in which the couple encountered Mr Tamihere at Wentworth, where Mr Höglin was killed and Ms Paakkonen was abducted and taken to Tararu Creek Road in the couple's car," the judges concluded. "We accept that it remains impossible to know the couple's precise movements after they were seen in Thames on 7 April and why they were killed. But we do not accept that it is impossible to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Tamihere killed them." Tamihere's lawyer Murray Gibson said after the ruling that Tamihere no longer had much faith in the justice system. Police welcomed last year's Court of Appeal ruling and called it "hugely validating" for the staff who worked on the case. They said they remained determined to find answers for the tourists' families. While Höglin's body was found in 1991 the location of his fiancé's body remained "one key piece missing from this puzzle", police said. They appealed for Tamihere to "do the right thing". There is no obligation for Tamihere to appear at the Supreme Court hearing. April 1989 - Heidi Birgitta Paakkonen and Sven Urban Höglin are last seen in Thames. Tamihere was on the run from police and living rough in the bush after pleading guilty to raping a woman three years earlier. May 1989 - David Tamihere is arrested over an earlier rape. That same day, the couple are reported missing. December 1990 - Tamihere is convicted of murdering the couple and sentenced to life imprisonment. 1991 - Höglin's body is found near Whangamatā. 1992 - The Court of Appeal rejects Tamihere's appeal. 1994 - Tamihere is denied leave to appeal to the Privy Council. 1995 - Witness C - later revealed as Roberto Conchie Harris - swears an affidavit retracting his evidence. 1996 - Harris retracts his retraction. 2010 - Tamihere is released on parole. 2016 - A private prosecution alleges Harris lied at Tamihere's trial. 2017 - Harris is sentenced after being found guilty of perjury and not guilty of perverting the course of justice. 2017 - Harris appeals the perjury convictions and sentence and fights to keep his identity hidden. 2018 - Harris drops his appeal against the perjury convictions. 2018 - The High Court revokes suppression order for Witness B, another prison informant. 2020 - Justice Minister Andrew Little announces Tamihere's case is going back to the Court of Appeal after a Royal Prerogative of Mercy is granted. November 2023 - The Court of Appeal hears Tamihere's case. July 2024 - The Court of Appeal declines to quash Tamihere's convictions. December 2024 - The Supreme Court grants leave for the case to be heard there. August 2025 - The case heads to the Supreme Court sitting in Auckland. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
19-07-2025
- RNZ News
Father and daughter's $200k ATM heist in Hillcrest lands them home detention
By Belinda Feek, Open Justice reporter of Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford, of Te Awamutu, and her father James Lindsay Ranford, of Hamilton. Photo: Belinda Feek / NZME A father and daughter who looted almost $200,000 from an ATM claim $159,000 of the cash, which police are still searching for, has been spent. Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford and James Lindsay Ranford have said they used the stolen funds on drug debts, rent, vehicles and tangihanga. Last year's heist was carried out by Daniela-Ranford, a former Armourguard employee, who enlisted the help of Ranford, her now terminally-ill father, to act as her getaway driver. Police have only been able to reclaim about $34,000 of the stolen money . The pair were due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court last month and, despite questioning, both denied knowing where the money was. At their sentence indication hearing earlier this year, a police prosecutor believed it may be buried somewhere on Coromandel Peninsula. Judge Glen Marshall adjourned the case to give them time to recall where the money was, suggesting that if they could it would keep them out of prison. This week, they returned to court on their burglary charges and, through affidavits, said they'd spent the money on debts, rent, vehicles and tangihanga. On 31 May, last year, at 4.16pm, Ranford, 60, and his daughter parked outside Yukedas Party and Gift Store in Hillcrest. The pair had slightly altered the registration plates of their Nissan Tiida by changing one of the numbers. Dressed in all black, 26-year-old Daniela-Ranford, of Te Awamutu, got out of the car with her hood up. She walked into the store and went straight to an ATM. Daniela-Ranford entered two codes, which she had learned during her time with Armourguard, and removed five cash canisters containing $50 and $20 notes, court documents stated. She then got into the back seat of the car and Ranford took off "at high speed", heading east along Clyde St. A short time later, the Nissan was set alight on Holland Rd, Eureka, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The pair was later captured on CCTV at Z petrol station in Hautapu in a Mitsubishi Outlander, registered in Daniela-Radford's name. At their sentencing, a police prosecutor said the burglary had caused significant harm to the community. "I do find it quite hard to believe that the money has just evaporated on various debts and things and it would be the police submission that a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate," she said. But Daniela-Ranford's counsel, Jaiden Manera, pushed for 60 percent in discounts so the end sentence would fall within a range where home detention could be considered. He submitted that his client was the sole caregiver of her two children and if she was sent to prison it was "unclear what the childcare arrangements would be". She also had a clean criminal history, was subjected to childhood deprivation, qualified for a youth discount and was genuinely remorseful. "It is clear that this offending is out of character for Daniela-Ranford and, of course, it has all the hallmarks of desperation and perhaps irrational thinking," he said. "This offending has had a tremendous impact on her personal life ... and has been a real wake-up call for her." She would also agree to pay a maximum of $40,000 in reparation, he said. Defence counsel Shelley Gilbert said Ranford, who lives in Hamilton, has terminal stage 4 bladder cancer, but no one was able to give a timeframe as to when he would go into hospice care and he remained on medication. Although a pre-sentence report recommended the pair should be jailed, Gilbert said a clinical psychologist's report stated that prison would be "inappropriate" for Ranford, given his condition. "Ranford would be a model home detention detainee and hoped to spend his remaining time with his grandchildren and daughter," she said. "As to the money? It has been spent. "Is that acceptable? No, and Ranford does not suggest that it is." He had bought $1500 to court as reparation but had earmarked that for his funeral, and Gilbert asked the judge to allow him to keep it for that purpose. "His particular concern is for his daughter. "If he could do anything to take [the offending] back ... if he could bring the money here today, he would have." Hamilton District Court. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Judge Marshall accepted what the pair had stated in their affidavits - that at the time, there were tangihanga that the money went towards and "considerable debts" for Ranford's substance abuse. As for Daniela-Ranford, she admitted she'd received $40,000 but said she had spent it on debts and rent. "It still is somewhat puzzling how so much money went so quickly," the judge said. However, given their respective circumstances, he agreed neither should go to jail. He sentenced both to 10 months' home detention and ordered them each to pay a reparation of $20,000 in instalments. Ranford was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. - This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
More rain for Auckland, clearer skies down south
There is a heavy rain watch in place for Auckland tomorrow. File photo. Photo: 123RF Heavy rain is heading towards Auckland and the east coast of the North Island, but the most sodden parts of the South Island are set for a reprieve from the downpours, says MetService. There is a heavy rain watch in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato north of Lake Waikare from 4amThursday through to 2pm, with localised downpours possible. Northland, where a suspected tornado hit Tuesday morning , has also been issues a strong wind watch for Thursday afternoon and evening. The wet weather is then expected to head east, with another heavy rain watch for Gisborne/Tairawhiti and Hawke's Bay north of Napier, starting at midday Thursday and lasting until 6am Friday. MetService has warned that streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with possible surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions. The weather agency has also warned that there may be snow on the highest part of the Desert Road on Thursday afternoon. Further south, areas such as Nelson - which are still cleaning up after multiple deluges in the past few weeks - will get a break from the current bad weather, with relatively clear skies for the next few days. After a wet and wild few weeks for the top of the South Island, drier days are finally in store ️ Follow along in real-time with satellite and rain radar imagery on our website: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Thames MSD staff refuse to work at mould, sewage smelling office any longer
The temporary Ministry of Social Development office operated out of the Wintec Building in Queen Street, Thames until Monday. Photo: Googlemaps More than a dozen Ministry of Social Development staff walked off the job over what they say is an unsafe office with a ''strong mould and sewage smell". Staff stopped working in the ministry's Thames office on Monday, leaving 12,000 clients without a face-to-face service. The office was supposed to be a temporary space, after the Ministry of Social Development closed its main office in Pollen Street in November 2023 due to damage. But there's been ongoing issues with the temporary building. Staff moved out for a period of time last year, and last month it was closed for three days for security and privacy upgrades. The Public Service Association has now issued MSD with a Provisional Improvement Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act, which requires the employer to address concerns about health and safety. MSD has redeployed staff to Paeroa which was 33km away. Thames Community Board chairperson Adrian Catran told Checkpoint the situation for clients trying to go to MSD was "terrible". "Twelve thousand clients in and around Thames and in the Coromandel Peninsula are unable to have face-to-face contact with MSD in Thames." Catran said it was "wrong" that clients wanting to visit MSD in person would have to travel to Paeroa. "There is no actual transport available to just travel to Paeroa at the moment, so that means they have to find their own way." MSD staff have been working in the temporary office for 18 months, despite the space originally being used as a solution for four weeks. Catran said the temporary office has had a number of issues over a long period of time. "The building is not really fit-for-purpose and had shortcomings anyway. Now it appears that has manifested itself to a point that staff won't work there. "It's had other problems in terms of the space is too small for 13 staff for example, client privacy is not available within the building to the extent that a lot of clients wanted." He said on a previous occasion the ceiling had collapsed in another room in the building. The original building had been vacated due to black mould and water leaks, but had now reopened as a fruit shop, Catran added. Last year local MP Scott Simpson issued a statement saying it was unacceptable for people to have to travel to Paeroa to see MSD staff in person, which Catran said was still relevant today. The Ministry of Social Development told Checkpoint the Thames Service Centre was temporarily closed on Monday and staff were redeployed to Paeroa Service Centre. They had access to vehicles for travel. Acting Regional Commissioner, Sharlene Horne, said MSD was working through concerns about the building in conjunction with the landlord, while also working on securing new long-term premises that met the ministry's requirements. Horne said MSD was working to reopen the Thames Service Centre as soon as possible but many of the client conversations in Thames already happened over the phone, and she expected clients should still be able to complete their appointments. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Checkpoint there had been long-standing issues with the working environment at the Thames office which was supposed to be a temporary site. These concerns came to a head on Monday and health and safety representatives at the office had since issued MSD with a Provisional Improvement Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act. She said the PSA was working on ensuring workers were not disadvantaged by any alternative options proposed and that they would continue to support workers through this. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The 12-year campaign to keep New Chum Beach from developers
environment court 32 minutes ago New Chum beach is one of the last undeveloped beaches in the Coromandel - with access only provided by a walking track. For the last 12 years, a group of locals have been fighting to keep it that way by protesting against a planned 25-house development. This week the fight hits the courts and campaigners Phil Keoghan (yes, Phil Keoghan from the Amazing Race) and Preserve New Chum For Everyone chair John Drummond.
