A former Auckland drug runner who served as a minion in one of New Zealand’s largest ever syndicates has been sentenced to a shade under a decade in prison. Matt Goodwin, said his client had been seduced into the sprawling and sophisticated syndicate amid financial difficulties, cultural pressure and personal tragedy with the death of his grandfather, his “mainstay of support”. Read full article here.
SENTENCING AT WELLINGTON DISTIRCT COURT – CLASS A, B & C DRUGS: IMPORTATION, POSSESSION FOR SUPPLY, AND CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY
BR was represented by Matt and Ciara and pleaded guilty to 8 charges involving importation, possession for supply and conspiracy to supply class A, B and C drugs. BR had been arrested as part of Operation Skipjack, a major investigation into the importation of illegal drugs in the Wellington region. BR had earlier faced 98 charges
At sentencing in the Wellington District Court, the Crown sought an overall starting point of 15 – 16 years imprisonment.
However, Matt sought discounts for a raft of mitigating factors including BR’s guilty plea, remorse, factors relating to his upbringing, addiction and rehabilitative efforts at Red Door Rehabilitation Facility, time on bail and lack of previous convictions.
His Honour Judge Hobbs acknowledged these factors in his decision and provided a discount of 70%. This resulted in an end sentence for BR of 3 years and 7 months imprisonment, an exceptional result.