Tony Worrell Found Guily Of Murder

50 year old Swanson man Tony Worrell has been found guilty for the murder of 26 year old Katie Powels in Karaka.

Swanson, who had been drinking and taking diazepam for alcohol abuse prior to the crash, was found to have deliberately driven into newlywed Mrs Powels' car at around 80 kms/hr.

Moments before the crash Swanson had also deliberately driven at speed into another motorist Brett Robinson, who had just picked up his sons from soccer practice and was driving home. Mr Robinson's injuries were so severe that he has been unable to work since.

New Zealanders drink 8.7 litres - 9.4 of pure alcohol per capita annually and ranks 24 out of 50 English speaking countries in the OECD for alcohol consumption.

The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand 'Alcohol Monitor' classifies 25% of New Zealanders as binge drinkers and it's estimated that harmful alcohol use cost New Zealand between $4.8 billion and $5.3 billion in social costs in the 2005/06 year.

Harmful drug use in total (alcohol and other drugs combined) cost New Zealand approximately $6.9 billion. 28.4 percent of the drug and alcohol costs result from injury.


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More Responses To "Is Crime A Serious Problem In NZ?"

We've long been concerned about crime in New Zealand and how the country is often portrayed abroad as having a low crime rate/risk of crime. A recent report showed that 80% of New Zealanders were concerned about serious crime in the country and the issue has been explored in the Auckland based NZ Herald.

The paper asked for readers responses and they've been coming in thick and fast, we've already highlighted a few of them on here and would like to share some more with you, including a very astute one from a resident of John Key's electorate - Helensville, a small rural township north of Auckland, that has recently suffered from a spate of armed robberies.

Rose ()
I live near Helensville and their is a crime problem escalating there. In weekends and after hours there are no police and so they send units from Kumeu and Henderson which is a 30 -45 minute commute.

Crims know this and so crime is on the increase as there is not much chance crims can be apprehended in the act.

We have yobs from around Auckland and Dargarville coming down for anti social behavior every weekend - in our area close to the beach - it is vehicle and vandalism crime and poaching. They bring their guns to shoot deer, chop down the native forest for firewood, ride their unregistered motorbikes and quad so they can't be caught by locals and leave their 4 wheel drives hidden in the forest.

It is no surprise that these few yobs have now escalated into armed robbery and the murder of the cyclist in Kaukapakapa.

Locals have been complaining for years about the yob element which is easily contained by weekend road checks close to the beach where they don't expect it and a search of rego's, warrents, firearms and drugs.

Worst still it is the PM's electorate. If we have no police in weekends what does this say about the government promises?


Level Headed (New Plymouth)
Despite having travelled extensively throughout the world (more than 130 overseas cities at the last count plus hundreds of smaller towns and the like) I have been robbed only three times. Unfortunately each of those occasions was in New Zealand.

I have always been security concious and am as wary here as I am anywhere else. So I am not a victim because I am complacent when travelling at home.

It follows that New Zealand has a serious problem in particular where we look at crime against tourists.

As for crime in our area it depends what we label crime. Drunken hehaviour, drunk driving, punch ups and the like are commonplace. Its like the wild west after certain hours in the local township. So we avoid being a victim by not going there.

It sounds laughable. But its not. Our locum doctor - someone who we are trying to attract and retain - has just returned home. I asked why and the response was that he found he had to treat more victims of violent crime than his home country and found his job here distasteful. He was American.

Chris (Flat Bush)
No doubt in mind crime is a serious problem in New Zealand. Statistics would probably show that crime is worse here than in any other OECD country. I have faith in the National Party government though, while Labor with their social re-engineering gave criminals more rights than our great law enforcers.

I have worked all over the world in real difficult places and only in New Zealand I was exposed to an armed robbery myself, in a dairy one night. The robbers, equipped with weapons and threatened our lives, were caught, but no charges were filed sine the Indian dairy owners were too scared to file charges, being threatened by the robbers and their Samoan associates.

It would be the only country on the planet, apart from some African and South American countries, where criminal gangs roam the street showing off their patches and intimidating innocents. It would be the only country where police don't act on tips about drug houses, unless the frightened citizens come out in the open as witnesses.

I voted for change and sincerely hope that our new government with Mr. Key at the helm do what is needed to change the situation.

westie (New Zealand)
Many years ago we could sleep at night with the front door open and a screen on the catch.There was absolutely no concern at the time and in our area of intruders.Those days have long gone.It is now unsafe to walk around the streets in the early evenings let alone at night without some criminal or gang prospect wanting to cause problems.I feel we are far too lenient on criminals especially those that use a age restriction to avoid serving time in prison.

So what can be done about crime?I think education begins in the home and not behind the prison bars.For those parents with criminal children it is time they,the parents,were held accountable for the behaviour and antics of their children.

They were the ones who bought the child into the world and they must be held responsible for whatever actions their child does.Quite often parents don't care less where their children are or what their children are doing at night. A lot of parents find their "out" of being a responsible parent by going to the TAB,the Casino or the Pub.

KatieR (Point England)
I had two home invasion type robberies where pacifica youth broke into my house while I was home to steal stuff- they were still coming in the window after I saw them and if my male flatmate had not chased them off, it would have become violent.

We were next to Glen Innes and the police did not want to come out , and did not investigate. Right after that I moved to a wealthy Auckland area and gave up on saving for a house. I had one very petty car crime and the police were around, following up and filing reports. I only reported it for insurance.

I was talking to a police officer a few months ago- He said that the serious crime rate went up the moment sentences were decreased for burglary and theft. We should target the small, petty crimes, and the big ones will be nipped in the bud.

Also- if criminals are not fron New Zealand, we have no responsibility to pay for their imprisonment and rehabilitation. Deport criminals like Australia does- including under 18s and free the cash up for better purposes. Perhaps whole families with criminal children should be deported- it won't take too long before they get strict on their kids, or send them home at their expense.


katrina d (Papakura)
We bought a house in Papakura, need I say more. The teenagers around here are a right pain in the butt and the parents are no better off.

Unbeknown to us, we bought the house just around the corner from where Michael Choy was killed. (ed. Michael was beaten to death by a group of 12-17 year olds) Many of the neighbours have sold up and moved out of the area but we have a 30 year mortgage so we are stuck here.

However, its what you make of the situation.

I don't hide behind my curtain, neither do I allow them to intimidate me or my family.
What makes me sick is, my household are workers and we can't afford a small simple car, so we depend on public transport or pay freinds to get to and from work and yet, these dole bludging, benefit ,

Housing NZ tenants have the latest of vehicles out there. They can just walk into WINZ and have school uniforms paid 'just like that'. Even thier food is paid for , while they spend our hard earned money on booze.And yes, That does happen.!
Its also very rare to see a genuine solo parent on this side of town.

Poverty doesn't cause crimes, its these lazy a$ed clowns who think its their given right to take what ever they want.

 
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Elderly Woman Found Murdered In Kaitaia Named As Barbara Catherine Julian, Another Eldery Woman Beaten in Tauranga.

A 70 year old woman has been found dead in her own home. Neighbours discovered the woman at 91 Matthews Avenue, Kaitaia at around 5.30pm yesterday.  Police have said that a man had been seen walking away from the house earlier in the day and a resident of the street had made a call after seeing a suspicious person at the property. It is not known if the call was followed up on.

The woman was later named as Barbara Catherine Julian.


View Larger Map, 91 Matthews Avenue
A 17 year old youth has been arrested on an unrelated matter and is being treated as a "person of interest."

Last Friday at around 4pm a 69 year old Keitha Brown was attacked on Cameron Road, Tauranga and robbed of $12. After spending a night in hospital with injuries that included a broken humerus bone, a swollen cheek, a black eye and a cut to her face she left and is now recovering at home with her family.


View Larger Map, St Catherine's Church, near to where the attack took place
The shocking homicide and attacks on defenseless elderly women come at a time when a survey has shown that 80% of New Zealanders are seriously worried about crime in the country but the majority of them think it doesn't happen where they live.



See also posts tagged Crime and Murders.

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Crime in NZ - What Kiwis Think

Yesterday we blogged on the Herald's article in which it said that 80% of Kiwis think crime is a serious problem in NZ but the majority of them thought it wasn't a problem where they lived - "Not in my backyard" syndrome. Selective blindness perhaps, or a problem with definition?

Today we'd like to share with you some of the Herald's reader responses to their article. Some go so far as to support the presence of vigilante groups. It's great reading for anyone keen to leave behind the crime of their own countries and believe the hype about NZ being a safe place with low crime levels. Perhaps it's all relative?

Fletch (Northland)
Yes - yes - Crime is a very serious problem up here in Northland and has been for quite a long time. Even the 'tourist areas' are now being targeted! Gone are the days when you could leave things unlocked and you were completely safe in your own home but we need to deal with the consequences of the crime.

Judges need to stop giving the criminals a slap with a wet bus ticket - get real give them something that hurts the first time so that they think twice about ever committing a crime again.

You only have to come up here and walk down our town and see what has happened. If the parents have never taught their kids - then unfortunately the law has to step in and try when it really is too late.

Bring discpline back into society - what we are doing today has not helped - it all needs to start in the home when the kids are little. I am not talking abuse here but teaching kids what society is about would help immensely - we have gone too far the other way and we now have a generation of 'iwi' - 'ihi' (I want it - I'll have it) and this says it all!

Indie Gooch (Newton)
This is a nation founded on the wholesale theft of land by threat of genocide - why would anyone be surprised that crime is a part of NZ's culture?


Forrest Green (Pipiwai)
Yes gangs run the country the streets the prisons, it will only escaluate. No one is safe if you think you are your mistaken.

P. Hand (Onehunga)
Crime is a definitely a serious problem in the whole of New Zealand. My take on it is not only the level of substance abuse across many generations but the "lifestyle" choices of those who prefer to stay on a benefit and "party" as they call it.

Not only that the horrendously bad attitude most people have to someone like myself who has struggled and worked to run a small business and own my own home is laughable considering they are better off than me. I couldn't afford to live the way these crims do and I don't have a convenient handout at the end of a bad month where I can't meet my bills.

The whole substance of society needs to change and change now.

Bonux (Auckland)
11 years in jail for stealing war medals.
3 years in jail for murdering a taxi driver.
If crime is a problem, so is the failure of our current Justice system.

D D (Gulf Harbour)
Tuesday November 3, 2009 JJ Demons (Stanmore Bay);

It's a nice story - but I'll give you two words why people no longer to stop to help out in domestic violence etc: Austin Hemmings.
 
BigbadSue (Pakuranga)
Forget blaming police for crime, it's the public who commit crimes, from graffiti to murder, drunk driving, bank robberies etc. The police only are expected to catch the morons and the fluffy nanajudges then "punish" them.

Many of us don't even want the police to have tazers or guns, what are they supposed to use? Whistles? Or mark their heads with chalk like overparked cars? We demand violence on TV and rented videos, show crazy car driving also.

Then sell liquor to young pinheads, who get fonged and ape this stuff; we say "Dear dear what has gone wrong? I know! Lets blame the police" Well, try blaming ourselves, we set the examples, make the laws and appoint the judges.

ugustus mccrae (Wanganui)
I am an American psychologist. We are legal permanent residents of NZ who will no longer live there because of the crime and corruption, which is laced throughout the society.

The police are dangerously secretive (read gestapo) and involved in the worst crimes. They help fence stolen merchandise and the meth culture could not exist without their massive complicity in it.

The judicial system is riddled with myopic snobs who are quite busy feathering their own nests and feeding nonsense to a sheeplike citizenry bent on its own destruction through ignorance and denial of the glaring facts.

Children are very sensitive to the hypocrisy and cowardice of their elders. And NZ children have the highest suicide rates in the world. Anyone denying the extraordinarily high crime rate in NZ, which includes violence and rape,should avail themselves of the stats collected by the UN and repeated on such sites as United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention); www.nationmaster.com. I wish we had before we invested time and money in this pathetic country.

Truth Seeker (Royal Oak)
Crime is a problem in NZ, and disregard for people and property can be observed daily in many parts of Auckland. In my area there is luckily not that much crime, but then again most crime in NZ is not really seen, as it goes on behind walls in houses and also commercial buildings.

The problem I see is that many citizens simply do not like to get involved, even when they see some crimes or minor offences take place. I was once on a bus and saw a young Maori guy board the bus with a hammer in the hand, which he swung at another two Maori youth he obviously had an issue with.

Luckily he did not hit anyone and ran off before the bus took off. I approached the driver of Asian background and asked him to call the police. He simply shrugged his shoulders and did not want to get involved. He had the cheek to tell me to call the cops! Others in the bus simply sat there and looked away.

This is Auckland nowadays, and when criminals or hoons know they get away like that, then they will simply exploit any situation. People complain justifiedly about the poor response time of the police. But if everybody would show a bit more courage and stand up for the law, we would not have half the crime!

Wolfman (Christchurch)
Crime is a major problem in this country, after living in Aust for 23 years and coming back here I can't believe what I walked into. I have even had my own family steal from me and the police don't want to know about it, they say it is a civil matter, WTF?

We are talking about thousands of dollars here, but nothing is done. The major problem is this country has weak PC Nanny Politicians and Judges. Too much time is spent on appeasing the Rights of Criminals instead of victims.

vinkredible (Manurewa)
No, its not crime that's the problem, its the justice system. The age-old tradition of handing down limp-wristed penalties for crime has caught up, and now every crim and his dog can smell a free-for-all.

The police are no help either, focusing almost solely on revenue gathering with ticketing speeders and cellphone users, instead of answering the call to a burglary or assault. No, instead they have the taxi's go to investigate.

NZ is a beautiful country and i love it, but i feel everyone who isnt a politician or isnt well-heeled, is getting raped, by those very people. Which is about 90% of us.
Its just a shame we're all sheep. Cos otherwise something would be done about it.

Huggiebear (Ellerslie)
Crime is thriving in this country, thankfully very little in my street, except the drug house across the road lived in by bogans, but the worst problem really is only loud music and boy racers dragging up and down the street (No amount of legislation will stop them).

The Police are too busy collecting tickes and getting fines out to people to care about REAL crime. They only hang around ghetto areas as they believe thats where most crime is. I don't feel that safe in my own country, when the Police can't find a womens body locked in a car after 2 days and a little girl theres a huge search for a week, and her body is found in a drain because the parents can't be bothered supervising her. Police need to get their priorities straight.

Vigilante groups may be the only way to tackle crime.

mchaggis (Hibiscus Coast)
Crime is a very serious problem in NZ, to the extent that criminals literally get away with murder! One of the many reasons crime is so bad here, is the fact that there are not enough front line police officers out there doing the job of preventing crime and pursuing criminals in the community. This is through no fault of the police, but is the result of government cutbacks to save a few dollars here and there.

Political correctness is another reason crime is allowed to run rampant out there. I'm sure PC has a huge influence over the police, in affecting their ability to be able to pursue criminals to the full extent of the law. At the same time, when the police do make an arrest, PC again rears its ugly head in the justice system, when judges are unable to apply affective correction procedures as punishment!

Not enough police officers working the beat in the community, along with political correctness, are the main reasons crime is so prevalent these days! This is an issue the government needs to address promptly!"

 
See also: Stats pages
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80% Of People Think That Crime Is a Serious Problem In New Zealand

 But it's someone else's problem, according a Victoria University survey, Not in my backyard? Crime in the Neighbourhood, conducted by Institute of Criminology director Associate Professor Michael Rowe. This is taken from an write up by Alanah May Ericson in today's NZ Herald newspaper:

"New Zealanders can recognise crime in other areas, but prefer to dismiss it as part of everyday life in their own, a study suggests.

The study focused on four areas - Murrays Bay on Auckland's North Shore, Otahuhu in South Auckland, Westown in New Plymouth and Havelock North in Hawkes Bay. They were selected for their varying socio-economic status, demographic profile and police-recorded crime rates.
The survey found that while more than 80 per cent of respondents agreed - or strongly agreed - crime was a serious problem in New Zealand, 63.2 per cent believed it was a problem only in other areas.

.. many respondents were defensive of the community to the point of dismissing problems such as public drunkenness by young people as a "rite of passage" and not something of a wider concern.

Some expressed sympathy for young people they believed had limited options in terms of social and leisure activities, suggesting they were at times over-policed.
One laughed off finding comatose teenagers in her yard at weekends."We find people sleeping in our agapanthus every Saturday night. You know that's normal behaviour for Havelock North and teenagers."(ed. Normal?!)

How serious a problem is crime in New Zealand, how widespread is it? you decide for yourself. Here is a round up of some high profile crimes hitting the news over the last week, they include 5 armed hold ups.

• New Zealand's youngest convicted killer Bailey Junior Kurariki, was back in court this week for assault and property damage charges. These are the latest of a string of offences since he was released from prison last year after being involved in the killing of a pizza delivery man in Papakura, Auckland.

• 4 Masked men held up an Armourgard van with a shotgun as it made a delivery to an ANZ bank in Huntly.

• A man was released on bail in connection with murder of a man in Massey, Auckland.

• Assault chrages were withdrawn for two members of a  vigilante group who patrolled Martinborough at night after a spate of burglaries in the town.
  

• Christopher Shaw, currently on trial at the High Court in Timaru, boasted "he had hunted all his life, had been shooting since he was 3 and "could have sniped every one of those cops"

• 550 Toyota vans have been stolen in an 18 month period by an international car theft ring operating in South Auckland
  

• A Christchurch pedophile with a long history of offending has just escaped a preventative jail term.

•  The Travelex in Hamilton was help up, it was the fourth robbery of a financial institution in the city during October.

• The NZ Credit Union Office in  Laurence Stevens Drive, South Auckland was help up at gunpoint.

• A young woman was indecently assaulted in Palmerston North.

• The Heu Heu St Credit Union in Taupo was held up at gunpoint

• Motueka police are concerned over a spate of minor arson and vandalism in the town. It appears the offenders were young and often intoxicated.

• Gordon Hieatt appeared in court in connection with the murder of Nuttidar Vaikaew in Western Springs, Auckland.

• A woman from Marton has been arrested for attempting to smuggle cannabis into Manawatu Prison

• The Mill Liquorsave in Taradale was held up and a worker was stabbed in the chest with a knife

• A Palmerston North student's dreams of being a fashion designer suffered a serious setback after thieves stole her car, phots, clothes and a year's worth of assignments. 
  

• 'Gansta kids' in South Auckland who offend have been called chameleons because they still attend church with their parents.
  

• Wini Miria Te Maia McLean was discovered dead at a premises Te Kuiti. She had been the victim of "multiple assaults"

• 2 Year old Karl Perigo-Check, son of an alleged mob member, died from critical injuries in Wanganui.

• A date was set for the trial of Gregory Meads,who is accused of shooting his wife in Matamata.

• Azees Mahomed is on trial for one charge of murder and one of causing an infant grievous bodily harm. She and her husband are also accused of failing to provide their daughter Tahani with the necessaries of life. They lived in South Auckland.

• The trial of a Christchurch taxi driver on a charge of rape has been adjourned. Mohammed Darwesh faced three charges of indecent assault, three of abduction for the purpose of sex, and one of rape, involving three girls. Two were aged 17 and one was aged 16 at the time of the alleged offences.

• Tony Worrell is on trial for the murder of a woman in Auckland, it is alleged he was heavily under the influence of alcohol and that he deliberately drove his car into hers. (He was later found guilty)
  

• A 17 year old youth admitted a charge of grevious bodily harm after  bashing an off-duty policeman outside a party in Hastings.

• A woman pleaded guilty to child cruelty at the High Court in Auckland.

• Two teenagers aged 17 and 18 have been jailed for a burglary spree in Nelson, Richmond and Motueka that left a trail of distraught victims.
  

• A hunter from Motukarara, south of Christchurch has been fined $8,500 for shooting rare and protected swans.

Further reading, see tags Crime and Armed Robberies.