Jury shown police interview with murder-accused DeLuney
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RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Murder-accused Julia DeLuney quizzed on blood spread around crime scene
Julia DeLuney suggested she spread the blood around the house, trying to wipe it off her own hands. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Murder-accused Julia DeLuney's second video interview with police has been played to the court, with a detective questioning how so much blood was spread around the house. DeLuney is on trial at the High Court in Wellington for the murder of 79-year-old mother Helen Gregory on 24 January last year, a charge she denies. On Friday, the jury watched her second video interview, recorded at the Porirua police station on 27 January, 2024, three days after her mother's death. During the interview, she told Detective Olivia Meares, who was conducting the interview, she might have put the bloody smears on the wall in the hallway and around the attic herself. "I was trying to get it off me," she said. "There was a lot of it ... it looked like coagulated. "Look, it just gave me ... it freaked me out, so I was just trying to get it off." Meares asked her to explain further, saying, "There's a few things that aren't making sense to me". The Crown's case is that DeLuney attacked her mother and staged it to look like a fall, but the defence says, in the 90-minute window when she went to get help after the fall, someone else caused fatal injuries to her elderly mother. During this second interview, Meares asked DeLuney: "From what you've described to me, I'm struggling to understand how there is all this blood on the top of the ladder." "I think that's my blood, I mean, mum's blood on me," DeLuney said. "I was trying to get it off." . "Julia, that doesn't make sense," Meares said, questioning why she would go up into the attic to do that. "I don't know what I was doing," DeLuney said. "You've got to get over all this stuff [she gestures to a picture of the cupboard's contents strewn on the floor] and then climb up," Meares said. "It's not making sense." DeLuney did not offer an explanation to this point. When pressed for more detail about what had happened immediately after the fall, DeLuney explained her mother was struggling and trying to get up, so she had straddled her to try and keep her still. Meares asked: "Julia, did you get angry at your mum when that was happening?" "I didn't get angry. I was getting scared, I didn't get angry." DeLuney explained she panicked she would be in trouble for letting her mother go up into the roof. Meares told DeLuney that, according to the pathologist, her mother's injuries - "multiple blunt force trauma to the back of her head" - were not consistent with a fall. "Can you tell me how that happened?" "No, I can't," DeLuney replied. "I think we should stop now, I think I need a lawyer. "I didn't hit my mum, I didn't hurt her at all, I was trying to help her." The interview ended at 10.01pm. The trial continues, with the defence expected to call its first witnesses next week. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Judge clears reporting of material on former Deputy Police Commissioner's computer
Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming resigned amid a four-month investigation. Photo: Getty Images Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming's High Court application to prevent media reporting the nature of alleged objectionable material found on his work computer has been dismissed, but the court has suppressed its reasons for doing so. He has been given five working days to appeal the judge's ruling. If an appeal is filed, the current interim injunction remains in place, until the appeal is determined. McSkimming resigned as the country's second-most powerful cop in May, amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. His resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a "very serious nature", separate to the investigation that led to his suspension. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work computer was being investigated as alleged objectionable material. His lawyer, Linda Clark, was earlier granted a rare "superinjunction" by Justice Grau that prohibited reporting that disclosed the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself. Following a teleconference held by Justice Gwyn, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued - but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report McSkimming's application and the interim result. On 3 June, a hearing was held in the High Court at Wellington before Justice Karen Grau in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff were jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. On Friday, Justice Grau released her judgment, declining McSkimming's application, but her reasons for doing so were suppressed and the existing interim injunction was continued to allow McSkimming time to file an appeal, should he wish to do so. If no appeal is filed within five working days, the type of objectionable publication purportedly found on his work devices may be published. At the injunction hearing, Clark began proceedings by telling the court she was seeking orders extending the current interim orders prohibiting media from disclosing the nature of the allegedly objectionable material reportedly found on his work device or devices. The order was sought until further orders of the court. Clark alleged information deemed "essential" to the investigation had been leaked to the media, who were intending to publish the information. The information gathered during the police investigation was "confidential", she said. She said that every time police had provided some substantive piece of information to McSkimming, it had appeared within the media "in a day or two days without exception". Clark said there was public interest in McSkimming's situation. She said public interest had been served to date. Stewart KC said there were two sorts of harm that could be considered, one of which was harm to the police investigation. He said the police had no concern that further disclosure of the material would impact their investigation. In relation to privacy, Stewart KC said McSkimming was "quite clearly" a public figure. "There is a huge public interest in these investigations into Mr McSkimming's abrupt resignation from office, first working day after he had been provided with the material by the Public Service Commission." Stewart KC said his clients submitted that, if the interim restraint should be continued, then "matters should be left to take their course, if there is to be any restraining at all, it should be as limited as possible for as short as possible". Crown prosecutor Stephanie Bishop, appearing for police, told the court that police did not oppose the application. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Australian NBL supports landmark arrest for racist message
Montrezl Harrell of the 36ers challenged by Jonah Bolden of the Breakers Photo: Matt Turner The NBL has commended authorities for the "swift and decisive" action in securing the first successful arrest in Australian basketball on charges of racially abusing an athlete via social media. On 2 July Victoria Police arrested and charged a 37-year-old man allegedly responsible for a racist message sent to Adelaide 36ers Montrezl Harrell's social media account in November 2024. Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit worked with police to identify the alleged culprit from Huntingdale. A spokesperson for the Integrity Unit said every athlete "deserves to compete in a safe environment, free from abuse". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that. "The individuals targeted by hateful messages are human, and Basketball Australia commends the courage it takes to call out this behaviour. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." NBL chief corporate and governance officer Lauren Blecher said the "NBL stands united with Basketball Australia in taking a firm stance against any form of online abuse or vilification. "The action by Victoria Police sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that led to this outcome." The man has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend. He has been bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on 15 August. Last year the Breakers backed calls for better protection of players and their families from social media abuse. In early November Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth revealed for weeks his team's players and their families had been "attacked brutally through social media to the point where it's ugly". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
