Latest news with #Thornicroft
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Man jailed for assault that permanently scarred victim's face
Kyle Thornicroft's lawyer asked the judge to look past his tattoos. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A heavily Nazi-tattooed Dunedin man who brandished a knife to commit a robbery left his victim permanently scarred, a court has heard. Kyle Justin Thornicroft, 28, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week where he was jailed for two years and four months. Counsel Deborah Henderson urged Judge Emma Smith to ignore her client's tattoos — including multiple swastikas and a Nazi eagle logo on his forehead — and said he was "working towards becoming a productive member of society". The judge noted seven pages of criminal convictions featuring serious violence and property offences which had led to Thornicroft being locked up repeatedly. His most recent stint behind bars came for domestic violence, threats, a weapons charge and failure to attend court. Thornicroft's release conditions dictated he had to report to Probation to assist his rehabilitation and reintegration back into society. But Judge Smith said the man had been verbally abusive to his Probation officer and said he would rather go back to jail than maintain contact with them. On February 27 last year, Thornicroft sealed another trip to prison. The victim had come to a house to buy methamphetamine. Thornicroft, the court heard, had nothing to do with the drug deal, but formed the mistaken belief the man had supplied his sister with the class-A substance in exchange for sexual acts. "It remains somewhat unclear what happened next," the judge said. The defendant punched the victim in the face several times, one of the blows splitting the man's cheek and leaving him scarred. The wound was thought to have been caused by a ring Thornicroft was wearing. The man who had sold the victim the meth restrained him while the defendant — armed with a knife — rifled through his pockets, taking his drugs, cellphone, bank card, car keys and up to $50 cash. Thornicroft said he would return the keys and phone if the man did not go to police. The victim agreed but immediately reported the crime. In a statement, he told the court he believed Thornicroft was going to kill him. Crown prosecutor Richard Smith accepted the defendant's upbringing had significantly influenced his life's course. Both his parents were well known to police, the court heard. Judge Smith called Thornicroft's background "woeful" and said it had likely resulted in addiction issues he had consistently failed to shake. , Court reporter
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Going presidential at the Luangwa safari luxe
You'll want to get out and explore, whether on a meandering morning walking safari or one of the twice-daily game drives. With the endemic Crawshay's zebra and Thornicroft's giraffe, the South Luangwa National Park is especially famous for its healthy population of big cats. No wonder it's dubbed the 'valley of the leopard'. Dry summer months are best for predators and you might see a handful on a single drive. Or, perhaps, none at all. This is the bush after all, so it pays to find the magic in the smaller sightings. Endangered ground hornbills hunting snakes. Cheeky migrant bee-eaters chirruping from the branches. Sunset light filtering through a majestic leadwood forest on the banks of an oxbow lake filled with hippos. Here, the landscape is as magical as the wildlife. You'll return to a deliciously contemporary culinary experience at the lodge. While there are no foams or frippery on the plate, dinners are defined by elevated bistro-style plates and lunchtime mezze platters are filled with bold colours and fresh flavours: Asian noodle bowls and beef skewers with house chimichurri. Freshly baked flatbreads. Daily sorbets. It's just the kind of food you want on safari. In the hours in between, book a massage at the intimate and airy spa or hit the treadmill in the gym with a view. Or find a couch on the terrace. Chances are the bateleurs will be balancing on the thermals out front and a lone buffalo will be plodding towards the waterholes below. It's a fine place to sit and gaze over one of Zambia's most remarkable wild spaces. I imagine old KK would be pleased.
Zawya
26-02-2025
- Zawya
Proflight Zambia increases flight frequency for safari season
Proflight Zambia will increase the frequency of its Livingstone–Lusaka route from once daily to twice daily, starting 1 April 2025, to coincide with the start of the safari season. This adjustment aims to improve connectivity for travellers arriving in Livingstone from Cape Town and those connecting through Johannesburg. New flight schedule details The updated schedule includes: • Early afternoon service: Departs Livingstone at 12.20pm, arriving in Lusaka at 1.30pm. The return flight leaves Lusaka at 10.35am, arriving in Livingstone at 11.45am. • Early evening service: Departs Livingstone at 6.20pm, arriving in Lusaka at 7.30pm. The return flight leaves Lusaka at 4.35pm, arriving in Livingstone at 5.45pm. The additional flights are expected to reduce transit times and provide more flexibility for travellers visiting Victoria Falls and engaging in white-water rafting, helicopter tours, and wildlife excursions in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Safari season flight schedule • Lusaka–Mfuwe: Flights on Fridays at 6.55am (arrival at 8:05am); Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays at 10.35am (arrival at 11.45am); and Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 4.35pm (arrival at 5.45pm). • Livingstone–Mfuwe: Flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (via Lusaka) with returns on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The Mfuwe route provides access to South Luangwa, known for its walking safaris and wildlife, including leopards, elephants, and endemic species like Thornicroft's giraffe. Broader connectivity to tourism destinations Proflight Zambia's Lusaka services also connect to: • Mansa: Access to Lake Bangweulu for birdwatching, fishing, and boat tours. • Kasama: Near Chishimba Falls, the Mwela Rock Paintings, and Lake Tanganyika, known for fishing and snorkelling. Addressing seasonal travel trends Josias Walubita, director of flight operations at Proflight Zambia, explains: "As a proudly Zambian airline that closely monitors seasonal travel trends, we consistently assess our route performance and adapt to meet passenger demand. Increasing the Livingstone–Lusaka frequency gives our customers more flexibility and less transit time. "This, along with our detailed safari season timetable, ensures that travellers—from those arriving on our new Cape Town–Livingstone service launched in December 2024 to our long-standing routes—can reach Zambia's iconic attractions more efficiently." "With Victoria Falls at its most dramatic in April and our national parks offering some of the world's best safari lodges, now is the ideal time for South African travellers to experience Zambia's unique blend of natural beauty and adventure," he added. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
