They had an argument, Lake went into the master bedroom and sprayed the bed with aerosol deodorant. Lake lit it with a cigarette lighter resulting in ignition with the inner sprung mattress of the bed,” Stratford said. The mattress and bedding caught fire, an area about 40 centimetres by 15cm, exposing the inner hollow of the mattress. In the immediate area were layers of bedding, and nearby were curtains, exposed wallpaper and wooden joinery, flooring and furniture, Stratford said. The defendant s sons entered the room and raised the alarm. Lake tried to put out the fire which was ultimately extinguished by the victim.
Police enquiries revealed she did have any mutton-birds or the ability to supply them as promised. When police spoke to the defendant, she admitted that she owed about $18,000 to people who had pre-purchased mutton-birds. In explanation, she said she knew she should not have spent the money, the summary says. She went onto say that she felt gutted and embarrassed and wanted to make things right. On each occasion of the mutton-birds not being delivered, the victims made numerous attempts to contact the defendant to ascertain when they would be supplied. Initially the defendant conversed with and advised the victims that the mutton-birds were going to be delivered and gave various excuses for the lateness of the delivery.
The Court of Appeal has found a sentence an Invercargill man was given was manifestly excessive.
A man jailed for doing an indecent act at the Invercargill Public Library has had his sentenced reduced. Michael Lawrence Williams, 35, was sentenced to two years and 10 months’ jail in March last year when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court on two charges of committing an indecent act, one of wilful trespass and three charges of perverting the course of justice. The library incident happened on May 30, 2017, when seminal fluid was found on a cushion and DNA testing later determined it belonged to Williams.
Two people have been arrested in relation to a burglary in Gore. A police spokesperson said on Wednesday night, eastern Southland police, with assistance from the Gore CIB and Invercargill Armed Offenders Squad, carried out several search warrants in Gore in relation to an incident at a residential address in Gore last weekend. A 21-year-old man and 19-year-old man were arrested and charged with aggravated burglary. The men were held in custody overnight Wednesday, and appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Thursday, the spokesperson said.
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