APPLICATION FOR BAIL – NGA KETE WHANGA SOLUTIONS

LC applied for electronically monitored (EM) bail to the rehabilitation centre Nga Kete Whanga Solutions.

The application was fiercely resisted by the Crown and Police due to concerns with the operation of the facility, which predated a change in management. The Crown filed a 9 page opposition to bail and the application was dealt with across four bail hearings.

During the hearing, Matt outlined for the judge how the facility now operated similarly to other rehabilitation facilities and additional security mechanisms had been installed by the CEO to comply with requests from Police. The facility also offers full-time supervision by staff, who reside on site for assistance – both for residents and to assist Police with bail checks.

At the final hearing, Matt was successful and LC was granted EM Bail to the address for rehabilitative purposes. The decision is now being used by other counsel as a precedent to assist their clients with getting bail to the address.

EM BAIL AND HOME DETENTION

KP plead guilty to 11 charges, with the most serious being injuring with intent to injure and burglary. KP accepted a sentence indication of 3.5 years imprisonment. However, prior to sentencing KP removed his EM Bail bracelet, absconded and was later re-arrested and remanded in custody. This was a wakeup call for KP, accepting that he needed support with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Ciara sought that KP be admitted to the Grace Foundation and filed an application for EM Bail, which was successful.

At sentencing, KP received discounts for his early guilty pleas, remorse and factors that were addressed in his cultural report pursuant to s 27 Sentencing Act. An end sentence of nine months home detention with judicial monitoring was imposed.

BAIL GRANTED

Ciara appeared at Court for a client faced with a new charge of strangulation and other violence-related charges.

The client, ZA was already on bail for violent charges and the Court was reluctant to re-admit the client to bail.

Ciara argued that due to the nature of the evidence presented by the Police and the client’s personal circumstances (including that he has full-time work), he should be readmitted to bail on more restrictive conditions.

 

The Court agreed and ZA was readmitted to bail.

Media

How police and homeowners brought down a Wellington drug syndicate

How police and homeowners brought down a Wellington drug syndicate

“… Matthew Goodwin spoke of his client’s journey since his second arrest, labelling it “transformational…

Former builder faced Judge Peter Hobbs for sentencing in the Wellington District Court, hoping for the home detention sentence his lawyer fervently argued for. He wasn’t granted home detention – but did receive a 70 per cent discount off his prison sentence.” Read full article here.

The MDMA in the juice bottle and the Brazilian cocaine: Auckland drug runner jailed for cartel role

The MDMA in the juice bottle and the Brazilian cocaine: Auckland drug runner jailed for cartel role

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.

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