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Man Dead From Gunshot Wound to Chest, Violent Gun Crime Continues in NZ
Auckland Police arrested a 29 year-old unemployed Manurewa man early this morning as a result of investigations over the past six weeks into four firearms incidents in various parts of the City District between November 13 and December 19.
Shots were fired in all four incidents and three men were injured and required hospital treatment as a result.
Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton of Avondale CIB says this morning’s arrest was effected simultaneously alongside search warrants executed by the Armed Offender’s Squad at two Manurewa addresses.
Shootings occurred at Hayr Rd on November 13 and 27, at a Mt Albert address on December 8 and in Seymour St, St Mary’s Bay, on December 19. source
In the Hayr Road shooting a fifty one year old male was shot in the leg, leaving him with serious injuries. A BMW car was stolen from outside the property.
A man died in west Auckland on Tuesday evening after he sustained a gun shot wound to his chest. Twenty nine year old Daniel Fifita passed away in hospital after being shot at a house in Afton Place, Ranui.
According to one report the parents of the young people who lived at the house were in Australia. Police, who are treating the death as a homicide, have yet to find the weapon used or the person responsible for the shooting.
In September a twenty two year old man was dumped at Taupo hospital with a shot gun wound to his leg, he declined to tell police how he got his injury.
In June a fifty five year old Paeroa businessman, Jordan Voudouris, was shot outside his restaurant. Police would not reveal the weapon used or the part of his body that was shot. Six months on and police have yet to find the person responsible.
“Voudouris’ ex-partner Gwendoline Richmond, says it came as a “terrible blow” when police finally told them he had been shot at the back of his Mykonos restaurant in the early hours of June 18.
“We were expecting a stabbing. When they told us he was shot, that just hit really, really deep. Who walks around the streets of New Zealand with a loaded gun? This is a place we thought was safe, a little place like Paeroa.
“I think being taken out by a gun, he would not have wanted to go that way, because he didn’t like guns. Even buying [his son] a toy gun was hard.” source
These were just examples of some of the shooting incidents that have occurred in New Zealand over the last year. By no means is it an exhaustive list.
There were 7074 reported prohibited and regulated weapons and explosive offences recorded in New Zealand last year, most of the weapons used in those crimes came from licensed owners. One study concluded that
Increasing procedures to ensure a robust three yearly licensing system and a gun registration process would help to reduce societal harm from the misuse of firearms. More research needs to be done into the viability and cost effectiveness of purpose built gun storage facilities in urban areas.
For more about this issue read posts tagged Gun crime and comments left on this page
Youth Arrested For Ashburton Mum’s Murder
Sina Solomona had everything to live for
We were saddened to hear of the murder of young Ashburton mother Sina Solomona.
Ms Solomona, age 22, was found in a pool of blood at her home in the quiet town early last Saturday morning. Our thoughts and condolences are extended to her friends and family for their loss.
Police are considering a sexual element to the attack but there was no evidence of rape.
There was also no evidence of a fight or scuffle, and there was no sign of any defensive wounds to Solomona’s hands and arms.
Her stepbrother found her near death in a pool of blood about 2.40am. He ran for help, but she could not be revived.
A weapon was found close to her body, but Rae is refusing to say what it was, or if it was used in the attack.
Police are considering a sexual element to the attack but there was no evidence of rape.
There was also no evidence of a fight or scuffle, and there was no sign of any defensive wounds to Solomona’s hands and arms.
Her stepbrother found her near death in a pool of blood about 2.40am. He ran for help, but she could not be revived.
A weapon was found close to her body… more here
Today police announced they had arrested a youth who has been charged with murder. They have released neither the age or the gender of the offender.
Many people emigrate to New Zealand believing it to be a safe place to raise children, this murder demonstrates that New Zealand is not as safe as people believe it to be. It is evident that New Zealand has exactly the same problems as any other place in the world, neither its remoteness nor its low population provides any measure of protection.
This is the latest of multiple serious crimes which have been committed by youths in New Zealand and unfortunately is it unlikely to be the last.
NZ’s out of control teens
Today 13 year old Jordan Nelson was jailed for 18 years for the murder of Rosemaree Kurth, he shot her in the back of the head at a home in Okoki North Taranaki.
The number of rapes and violent attacks perpetrated by teens in New Zealand is reaching worrying proportions.
In January Dr Kim McGregor, Executive Director of Rape Prevention Education wrote an open letter to John Key. He called for a Task-force on Action on Sexual Violence to be set-up in New Zealand and cited some horrendous child abuse figures. Read the task force’s report and recommendations here.
Far from being a great place to raise kids, the high level of sexual violence in New Zealand impacts 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 8 boys under the age of 16 years. For more about the significant problems of raising children in New Zealand please see our Education and Childrens Issues facts page.
Earlier this year a 16 year old raped and savagely mutilated a 5 year old Belgian girl at a Turangi campsite, the youth had been the subject of sexual violence himself as he was growing up.
The two males charged with the death of reporter Phillip Cottrell were aged 17 and 19, and the youth who battered Karen Aim to death was only 14.
Scottish tourist Karen Aim murdered in Taupo by a 14 year old
Two youths aged 14 and 15 Rotorua Youth Court were charged with the assault of elderly Polish man, Roman Skorek, whose body was found in Kuirau Park. A 20 year old has been charged with murder. Simon Meka Herewini, 20, William Karauna Edwards, 15, and Leslie McKay Glen, 14, have all pleaded not guilty to murder and will stand trial in February.
Youth crime is becoming increasingly savage in New Zealand. As the officers working on the Turangi rape case said: “its time for NZ society to take a good look at itself.”
Its also time for an in-depth review of the criminal justice system for youth offenders. Something patently isn’t working.
For NZ youth offending stories click here
For NZ violence against women stories click here
You may also be interested in Herne Bay couple flee violent home invasion
Kaikoura Firearm Chase and The Roar
thousands of ducks suffer in NZ
Local police are collecting evidence after a firearm incident at around 5.15am last Saturday morning in Kaikoura.
Police Sargent Barry Hansen said a man pulled a firearm on another man and “chased him round town” he didn’t have any information as to whether the two men were known to each other.
Senior constable, Andy Grant, in his weekly column for the Kaikoura Star wrote movingly about how a friend of his was killed in a tragic hunting accident.
He diligently reminded people to take care with firearm safety as the “roar” was fast approaching, pointing out the seven basic rules of the Firearms Code. (Free copies of the code are available from Kaikoura Police Station)
He said that he watched young men in the district attending court; he wanted to remind them at some time in the future they may want to apply for a firearms licence, saying
“Now is a prudent time for those lads to change their behaviour, show maturity, responsibility and decrease their alcohol consumption“
During the roar hunters take to the Kaikoura ranges and shoot wild pigs, and stags: it is not a great time to be out and about if you’re into enjoying the peace and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Fortunately all animal lovers are likely to be absent from the area now that the whale watching season is over. Whales are lucky that they took the evolutionary route that caused them to be water dwelling mammals. New Zealand has the distinction of being devoid of native land mammals for a good reason.
Hopefully people will get the message that alcohol and guns don’t mix and this year will be without incident.
In other NZ hunting news…
The annual ‘Great Easter Bunny Hunt’ – a fun family day out to celebrate Easter in the traditional way:
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The Great Easter Bunny hunt: Is an annual event in Otago sponsored by MOA BEER. (who said alcohol and guns don’t mix?) Last year nearly 23,000 rabbits, 979 hares, 8 pigs, many stoats and a goat were shot. Killing can be such fun for the kids. The rabbit corpses were collected by a scout group for composting.
Its not just mammals that are fair game, some of New Zealand’s native birds are too.
“1 million birds slaughtered“: Duck shooting carnage begins early this year for the Paradise Shelduck – DOC declared open season on the paradise duck with hunters invited to help reduce the number of the birds. These are a native New Zealand bird, once declared rare after being decimated by over hunting in the 19th century.
Careless and reckless behaviour during the first day of the duck shooting season resulted in a fatal shooting and the Armed Offenders Squad arresting a gun-wielding duck shooter in a bar. (There’s that connection with alcohol again)
Rosemary Ives’ killer is released after serving less than half his sentence (a school teacher was shot dead at DOC campsite whilst she was brushing her teeth one night)
Police name the man shot dead in hunting accident (a farm worker was shot dead whilst hunting rabbits)
Failure to correctly identify the target – is the main reason given for most hunting fatalities in NZ
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You may also be interested in other posts tagged: Animal welfare:
Auckland’s Real New Zealand Sheep Stunt Canned, Lambs Sent To Meat Works
Calls To Ban Abortions In NZ’s Dairy Industry:
Burnside High School In Lockdown, Gunman Spotted
Christchurch’s Burnside High School was placed in lockdown at 11 am after a man carrying a firearm was seen in the vicinity.
Reports on twitter say that armed police and dogs were moved into the school whilst pupils remained in their classrooms.
The Canterbury Star also picked up on the story, adding the following details
“The person, described as a Maori male, aged 16 to 18, wearing a black coat and dark jeans, was seen by students walking through the grounds carrying what appeared to be a silver pistol.
The weapon was not presented at anybody and no threats were made.
The male was seen exiting the school grounds towards Memorial Avenue…” more here
Police were unable to apprehend the suspect and the lockdown has now been lifted.
People from Christchurch took to the Trade Me forum to discuss the incident, with one person saying
“It’s been a warzone since the earthquakes, the snows, and violence including looting, and now this while the council and the govt do nothing – it is what it is down here. Like down at the O K Corale”
In November of last year an armed man was arrested in a gang related armed incident, just meters from two schools in Hastings.
Armed Siege in Wanganui
A NZ AOS Officer
Armed Offender Squad officers have cordoned off a Wanganui street after at least three gun shots were heard.
The NZ Herald reported
“At 2.45 this afternoon emergency services were called to the Wanganui suburb of Aramoho following reports of gunshots being fired.
A man was spotted walking around with a gun but he has since left the area, Inspector Paul Jermy said.
There was reports someone had been injured, but had only minor injuries, Mr Jermy said.
The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) have since cornered off Hackett Street after police located a vehicle they believe the gunman might have been in.” read more here
“Gang lands“
People on the Trade Me message boards were quick to speculate the cause:
“gun shots fired in Aramoho, a car has been discovered in Hackett Street Wanganui East , bet it’s gang related ”
“Maybe it’s the dad of the two year old that was run over?……”
Aramoho, Castlecliff and Gonville are known locally as “gang lands” and there are tensions between Black Power, Mongrel Mob and the Hell’s Angels
Hackett Street, Wanganui
For more posts about the Armed Offenders Squad read our page Armed Offender Squad & Armed Police Incidents – All About Safety? and posts tagged Armed Sieges
Migrant Tales
1080 Poison, 100% Pure?
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New Zealand crime news
- Arrests made after maiming at barPolice have arrested four Auckland men after an assault that left one man missing an eye and another with a deep cut to his scalp.
- Teen 'too wasted' during burglaryA woman thought she was going to be raped or killed after coming downstairs to find a teenaged burglar pulling her computer apart.
- Alleged rapist had troubled childhoodA man accused of abducting and raping a Wairarapa teenager has begun giving evidence about his poor upbringing and how he ended up in prison at age 14.
- Death-row dogs in pound break-outTwo dangerous dogs freed from death row in separate break-ins at Greymouth's dog pound may attack more victims before they are recaptured.
- Serious assault hospitalises manA one-armed Levin man is in intensive care at Palmerston North Hospital after he was assaulted in his own home.
- Pair admit guilt in Otaki dog attackThe owners of two dogs that savagely mauled two women at Otaki Beach have pleaded guilty to three serious charges.
- Hearing for mum charged with baby death A 21-year-old woman charged over the murder of her newborn baby in Lower Hutt is to have a hearing to determine if she is able to stand trial.
- Assault on reporter: Sentencing delayedA Rotorua teenager who punched a Sydney television reporter has had his sentencing date delayed for two months.
- Men deny murder in burnt body caseTwo men accused of burning an Auckland man to death have pleaded not guilty and will go on trial.
- Key evidence 'bad science' - Lundy appealMore ‘‘fundamentally flawed’’ science has been placed under the Privy Council microscope as Mark Lundy’s lawyer again raises doubts about its reliability.
NZ Police Alerts News New Zealand
- Whole of policing approach to organised crime nets largest meth lab for several years in HamiltonLocation: National News Waikato Police are warning those involved in the illegal drugs trade that they risk facing not only the attentions of local officers but a whole of policing approach to stamping out their unlawful activities. Image(s): […]
- Police working to establish identity of body found in Hamilton house fireLocation: National News As they work to establish the identity of a body discovered in a fatal house fire, Hamilton Police say their thoughts are with the deceased's family and with a fire-fighter injured while bringing the blaze under control. Detective Senior Sergeant Ross McKay of the Hamilton CIB said emergency services were called to a Brooklyn Rd […]
- Avoiding the scammers - Fraud Awareness Week a timely reminderLocation: National News Fraud Awareness Week 2013 is focusing on scams that target seniors this year. NZ Police Crime Prevention Manager, Superintendent Bruce Bird says Fraud Awareness Week is a timely reminder for New Zealanders to be vigilant about protecting themselves.
- Victim's family address media on anniversary of Paeroa homicideLocation: National News On the anniversary of the murder of a popular Paeroa businessman, father and friend his family, Waikato Police investigators and the local community have come together to pay their respects for a man gone, but not forgotten.
- Armed standoff overLocation: National News A standoff between Police and an armed offender in a Penrose bank was resolved at 9.45pm when the man was arrested without incident. The 41 year-old was transported from the Great South Rd scene to Auckland Central Police Station shortly after the arrest.
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