Dispute led to death threats and assaults

A noise dispute between neighbours soon escalated out of control, resulting in death threats and three police officers being assaulted.

Lisa Delwyn McGregor, 48, appeared at the Nelson District Court on Monday, where she pleaded guilty to charges of intimidation, threatening to kill, and assaulting police.

The incident took place on March 16, while McGregor was at home. According to the police summary of facts, at about 4.30pm McGregor approached her neighbour to ask her about some noises coming from the property.

McGregor also kicked one of the officers in the back while he was driving.

She then proceeded to yell at and abuse her neighbour – in front of her daughter – saying that she was going to ‘‘smash and kill her’’.

The ‘‘terrified’’ victim called her landlord to let him know what was happening, with the landlord also finding himself on the receiving end of McGregor’s verbal abuse.

After the woman called the police, McGregor approached her and said that she would burn her cottage down.

McGregor’s ‘‘aggressive and angry’’ behaviour continued after her arrest. During the drive to the Nelson Police Station she again stated that when she was released she would kill her neighbour and burn her home down.

McGregor also kicked one of the officers in the back while he was driving.

Once they arrived at the police station, she assaulted two more police officers – kicking one and punching another in the face.

Lawyer Lucy Patchett said McGregor pleaded guilty to all the charges, with one of them being amended from threatening behaviour down to intimidation.

Judge Richard Russell convicted McGregor on all charges but did not sentence her on Monday, saying he needed to find out more about her – given the serious nature of the threats.

Judge Russell remanded McGregor to appear for sentence on June 10.