Olympian on trial
The family of a young girl allegedly indecently assaulted by a gold medalwinning Olympian had looked on him as a hero, a court has been told. Arthur Parkin, born William Arthur Parkin, who was part of the New Zealand hockey team team which claimed gold in Montreal in 1976, is on trial at the Auckland District Court facing charges of indecent acts towards young girls. His trial began yesterday in front of Judge Robert Ronayne for alleged offending that took place between 1975 and 1983. Parkin faces five charges coming from three complainants including indecent assault with a girl under 12 and four counts of indecent assaults with girls between the age of 12 and 16. The alleged offending took place in Whangarei, Auckland and the Coromandel. Parkin has entered a not guilty plea for all five charges. The trial is set down for eight days.
Butcher denies murder
The trial for a man accused of murdering Christchurch sex worker Renee Duckmanton is under way. A jury of three men and nine women was empanelled yesterday morning in the High Court at Christchurch. Sainey Marong, 33, allegedly murdered Duckmanton in Christchurch on May 14, 2016. Her body was found at a scrub fire near Rakaia a day later. Marong, a butcher from Ilam, has denied murdering the 22-year-old. The Crown will call evidence from more than 80 witnesses in the three-week trial before Justice Cameron Mander.
Senior cop charged
A senior police officer in Northland facing sex charges can be named as Detective Inspector Kevin Burke. Burke’s name suppression lapsed during an appearance at the Auckland District Court yesterday morning. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual violation. While Burke’s name suppression has lapsed, details about the allegations he faces remain suppressed. He is currently suspended from duty as a police officer.
Body found on beach
A jogger has found a body on Christchurch’s Sumner beach. Emergency services were called to the scene about 4.35am yesterday, a police statement said.
Greens’ election on
The Green Party’s co-leadership contest is officially a two-horse race. The party confirmed yesterday that just the already-announced candidates, Marama Davidson and Julie Anne Genter, would be running. The new co-leader will be announced on April 8, and both candidates will campaign.
Deceased identified
Police have confirmed the identity of a person found dead in a car on a Wellington street. He was 21-year-old Zenith Campbell. He was found in a car in Aro Valley about noon on Sunday. Police are treating the death as unexplained at this stage.