Articles by Ric Stevens
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National
Client 'used as a punching bag' - residential care service shut down
Monday, 23 September 2024, 3:13pm- A disability service closed after a client’s complaint of his carer’s violence and conduct prompted an audit. - The Ministry...
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National
'They are entitled to closure': Developer's delays in paying migrant workers 'inexcusable'
Thursday, 12 September 2024, 1:13pmA judge says a property developer used “inexcusable” delaying tactics while trying to overturn $96,000 in penalties for multiple...
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Crime
Dad wanting to leave gang told it would cost him $20k - or his ute
Tuesday, 20 August 2024, 9:02pmA young father who wanted to put his wife and children first and leave the Black Power gang was told how much it would cost...
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Crime
Former missionary who joined gang terrorised motorist on way to fatal fight
Sunday, 4 August 2024, 1:54pmA former Mormon missionary who once lived a “positive and productive life” joined a gang and terrorised an innocent motorist...
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Crime
Drink-driver tries to escape charge due to officer’s ‘mere presence’ while considering blood test
Tuesday, 16 July 2024, 8:41pmA drink-driver has tried to get his conviction quashed because a police officer sat with him in a patrol car while he was...
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Crime
Police 'failure' as arson accused kept in jail for 286 days after another suspect identified
Tuesday, 16 July 2024, 4:37pmA man accused of arson has been awarded $15,000 in compensation for spending nine and a half months in custody after police...
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National
'Spiritual' feeling of relief after disgraced former MP quits disputed property after 37 years
Wednesday, 7 February 2024, 3:06pmFormer MP Donna Awatere Huata and her husband Wi Huata have left the Hastings property where they have been “unsatisfactory...
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Crime
Man denies kidnapping Havelock North children, elects jury trial
Tuesday, 31 October 2023, 1:34pmA man has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and elected trial by jury after an incident involving children walking in Havelock...
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Crime
Teen drug dealer bashed would-be robber with baseball bat until he thought he was dead
Wednesday, 18 October 2023, 4:18pmA teenage drug dealer took a baseball bat to a knife-wielding man who came to rob him, twice knocking him unconscious and...
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National
'Cavalier': Company fined $52k for quarrying in wine-growing area
Monday, 25 September 2023, 3:17pmA contracting company has been fined $52,500 for unlawfully quarrying in part of the important Gimblett Gravels wine-growing...
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National
Spectators scale court barrier to assault defendant in dock
Monday, 11 September 2023, 4:46pmPandemonium broke out in a High Court hearing on Monday when spectators scaled a two-metre barrier to assault the defendant...
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Crime
No job and no house insurance- burglar learns the hard way about the consequences of crime
Monday, 17 July 2023, 9:01pmA burglar who stole building materials from an orchard learned that crime has consequences the hard way – it ruined his chance...
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Crime
Fraudster's $16.7m claims against justice system die with him
Sunday, 2 July 2023, 1:35pmFraudster and tax dodger David Simon Barton spent the last years of his life in prison, filing legal claims totalling $16.7...
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Crime
No trial for terminal 91-year-old Lake Alice nurse charged with cruelty to children
Wednesday, 28 June 2023, 4:06pmFormer Lake Alice Hospital nurse John Corkran is dying and will not face trial on charges of cruelty to children in the 1970s. Corkran,...
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National
Blackmailer threatened to send video to former Air NZ manager's new employer
Wednesday, 24 May 2023, 9:17pmThe wife of an Air NZ employee who was made redundant was so unhappy with the way a manager spoke about him that she launched...
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Crime
Chinese entrepreneur runs out of options in bid to regain $500k lost in scam
Wednesday, 17 May 2023, 2:40pmA Chinese man who fell victim to an alleged $500,000 scam when trying to move to New Zealand appears to have run out of remedies...
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National
Man who punched and repeatedly kicked workmate tries to claim compensation over firing
Monday, 20 March 2023, 4:18pmA man who punched a workmate and then kicked him repeatedly on the ground claimed after he was fired that he was unjustifiably...
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Crime
Unusual jail sentence: Appeal court sees risk of a miscarriage of justice in environment case
Tuesday, 21 February 2023, 5:25pmThere is a “real risk” a miscarriage of justice occurred for a couple who received a jail sentence and heavy fine for draining...
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National
Al fresco justice: Gisbourne court operates outside following Cyclone Gabrielle
Tuesday, 21 February 2023, 1:56pmGisborne District Court reopened on Tuesday, a day after conducting an innovative “outdoor courtroom” due to the effects...
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Crime
Robber fails to claim back $5000 awarded to victime of service station hold-up
Thursday, 16 February 2023, 2:52pmAn armed robber has tried and failed to get back $5000 of compensation money that was paid to his victim – a lone service...
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Crime
Man charged with murder of Napier man Colin Blithe
Wednesday, 1 February 2023, 2:08pmA man has appeared in court charged with murder following the death of Colin Blithe in Napier last month. The man appeared...
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Crime
Salvation army punch-up: Man stays in jail for second-hand store bashing
Tuesday, 17 January 2023, 6:23pmA man who boasted he “knocked that motherf***** out” after a punch-up in a Salvation Army second-hand store will stay in...
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National
Hawke's Bay Protein fined again for stinky discharge at Awatoto after spending $1m trying to fix the problem
Tuesday, 17 January 2023, 2:33pmA company which spent more than $1 million trying to stop foul smells escaping from its rendering plant has been fined $13,000...
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National
Revealed: What's behind ram raid rampage? TikTok and adrenaline
Saturday, 24 December 2022, 10:10amThe children and youths behind the ram raid rampage of 2022 learned about violence in their homes and were partly driven...