In brief

Search for overdue tramper

A search is on for a tramper who failed to return from a South Island trek. Stephen Rainbird, 56, had been due to return on Wednesday after starting a tramp in the Cobb Valley, northwest of Nelson, four days earlier. Police are seeking sightings of him and have concerns for him. Police also hope to speak to a person named Harley who may have been the last person to have had contact with Rainbird.

Hunter laments Haden’s loss Rachel Hunter has penned a heartfelt tribute to her agent and mentor, the late All Black great Andy Haden. Taking to social media yesterday, the 50-year-old supermodel shared how heartbroken she was to be so far away at the time of Haden’s death on Wednesday after a long cancer battle. Posted alongside a picture of a smiling Haden, Hunter said he was pivotal in guiding her career.

Hit and run murder charge

A salesman has been charged with murder after a Christchurch man died in an alleged hit and run. Robin Friend died after being struck by a vehicle outside his flat in Parklands on Thursday. In Christchurch District Court yesterday, a 41-year-old salesman from the Belfast area appeared via audio visual link, facing one charge of murder. He was remanded in custody without plea to reappear in the High Court at Christchurch on August 21. He was granted interim name suppression by Judge Gerard Lynch.

Financier pays for $15m theft

A disgraced Dunedin financial adviser whose “unconscionable” offending included visiting victims of his multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme on their death beds has been sentenced to almost nine years prison. Barry Kloogh was sentenced in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday to eight years and 10 months prison, with a minimum period of five years and four months. Kloogh this year pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from his theft of at least $15.7 million from clients. Judge Michael Crosbie acknowledged the victims who had packed the courtroom.

Kiwi who tried to buy child named A New Zealander dubbed “Kiwipedo” on the dark web who tried to buy a child to sexually abuse for $15,000 has lost name suppression and can now be identified as Aaron Hutton. His suppression order lapsed at 4pm yesterday, when it was confirmed there would be no appeal. Hutton’s trial took a dramatic turn on Thursday when after nearly a week of witness testimony he admitted to two charges before Judge Allan Roberts in the Auckland District Court. He admitted that between January 13, 2015, and February 20, 2015, he tried to enter into a dealing involving a person under 18 for sexual exploitation.

Correction

The Herald this week wrongly said the Criminal Bar Association and Auckland District Law Society were parties to action by Wellington lawyer Andrew Borrowdale over the legality of the Covid-19 lockdown. They are not. The Herald apologises for the error.