Anna Leask

1 week ago | newstalkzb.co.nz | Anna Leask

A senior first responder has appeared in court today facing multiple counts of exporting and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of children. The charges have been brought against the man in his 50s by Customs New Zealand. He was arrested yesterday and held in custody overnight ahead of his first appearance in the Christchurch District Court. The man was called after 10am today before Community Magistrate Elder Robati. Court documents outline five charges against the man.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Anna Leask

John Hope Muchirahondo, 39, appears for sentencing in the High Court at Christchurch after being found guilty of a raft of sexual assault charges. Photo /Kai Schwoerer/Stuff PoolWARNING: This story contains details of sexual offendingSerial rapist John Hope Muchirahondo will head to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn his convictions and 23-year prison term.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Anna Leask

If Frances “Faye” Phelps knew her gardener Elliot Cameron was a mental health patient who shot his brother dead in bed 50 years ago, she never would have allowed him in her home. The 83-year-old’s family say she should have been told about Cameron’s violent and unstable past - but for at least 10 years, nobody who knew of his background said a word. Phelps was found dead at her Mt Pleasant home in October last year. Cameron had attacked and killed her with an axe three days earlier.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Anna Leask

A Christchurch preschooler was found limp and not breathing hanging from a curtain cord – but made a full recovery in hospital. Photo / Laura Smith A Christchurch mum thought her preschooler was dead when she found him hanging from a blind cord in the family’s playroom. The 4-year-old boy was blue and not breathing. Within minutes, paramedics were at the house and he was rushed to the hospital, where he would make a full recovery.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Anna Leask

Last week, mental health patient Elliot Cameron was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Faye Phelps at her Christchurch home. Until now, the Herald has been unable to report the fact that Cameron had killed before - shooting his own brother dead as he slept. Senior journalist Anna Leask reports. Frances “Faye” Phelps had no idea that the man who had been doing her garden for more than 10 years was a killer. She and her family knew he was different, unusual.