Burgled then robbed
A Christchurch man has been left traumatised and in need of counselling after he was bashed and robbed by criminals who returned to his home after burgling it the day before.
The man, who was 59 at the time of the robbery on January 28 last year, said in his victim impact statement that a year later he is still affected by the traumatic events. He said the ordeal has affected his business, his finances and his peace of mind. He has suffered on-going issues of memory loss, headaches and blackouts.
William Hewinson, 24, Daarian Akuhata Wira, 24, and Keiran Aaron Woodstock, 24, were sentenced for their part in the robbery in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Judge Stephen O’Driscoll sentenced Hewinson to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of burglary, aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, as well as assault, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, unlawful possession of a shotgun and receiving a stolen vehicle in relation to other incidents.
Wira was sentenced to 51⁄2 years’ imprisonment on charges of robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, dishonestly using a bank card for purchases five times, two charges of dangerous driving, and two charges of failing to stop for the police.
Woodstock was sentenced to 61⁄2 years’ imprisonment on charges of aggravated robbery, burglary, unlawful possession of firearms, and failing to give police a password for access to a cellphone. His sentence will run cumulative to a sentence he is in relation to unrelated charges.
The burglars broke into the house stealing a Ford Falcon XR8 motor vehicle, a customised Harley Davidson Dyna motorcycle and a laptop computer, leaving the house in disarray.
About 2pm the next day the victim was cleaning up in his garage when a large 4-wheel-drive came up his driveway. Wira, Woodstock and Hewinson got out and told him not to move. The victim attempted to run away and jumped over a fence, but could find no-one to help at a neighbouring property.
He tried to call the police, but Wira snatched his phone from him. The men forced the victim back to his own house and when he resisted, Wira asked him if he wanted to see a gun. The man was repeatedly punched, stomped and kicked and then dragged back to his house by the three men.
Police say Woodstock stayed with the victim and directed the activities of the others as they searched the house.
Wira took firearms from a locked gun safe while Hewinson put them in the back of the vehicle they had arrived in. The men started moving a television they planned to steal, but a glazier arrived to repair a window smashed during the burglary.
During sentencing Judge O’Driscoll urged the three men to make the most of their time in prison to better themselves and turn their lives around.
‘‘It is up to you how you spend your time in prison. I hope you will spend it in a productive way.’’