Articles by Craig Kapitan
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Crime
‘Come out for a 187’: Did Crips gang leader greenlight murder hit from behind bars?
Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 8:38amLasalosi Vaitohi and co-defendants are on trial for the murder of Peter Rasmussen. Prosecutors allege the Crips gang targeted...
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National
'No regrets... LOL': Woman who tortured boy jailed as judge rejects apology lette
Friday, 21 March 2025, 7:23pmSelica Romana Wright was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for torturing a boy over 10 months. The abuse included...
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National
Deadlocked: Jurors unable to decide if woman’s deadly leap from moving car was caused by partner
Thursday, 20 March 2025, 8:56pmA jury failed to reach a verdict in the manslaughter trial of a 29-year-old man. He was accused of beating his partner so...
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Crime
‘Cruel and horrific’: Family confront man who fatally stomped stranger during bar darts game
Wednesday, 19 March 2025, 3:35pmA young man who was beaten to death inside an Auckland bar without provocation was a naturally talented musician with an...
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Crime
’Exposed yourself to scrutiny’: Destiny Church-linked protesters at library pride event appear in court
Tuesday, 18 March 2025, 11:09amSeven people linked to a Destiny Church protest appeared in court after allegedly targeting an Auckland Pride event. Community...
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Crime
Gold bars still missing after $600k swindle as 501 deportee jailed
Monday, 17 March 2025, 1:41pmDion Robert Taiapa, a 501 deportee, was sentenced for laundering $662,000 through gold bullion purchases. The money was swindled...
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Crime
‘Kill us both’: Man admits speeding up, crashing into truck as partner broke up with him
Thursday, 13 March 2025, 7:14amJoseph Giovanni Booker pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing injury after crashing into a truck in Manurewa. His partner...
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National
Child witness details parents’ fight before mother’s fatal plunge in Māngere
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 8:31pmA child has recounted his mother’s fatal fall from a car during his father’s manslaughter trial. Prosecutors allege the mother...
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Crime
‘Stand the f*** back or get whacked,’ boy racer boasted after crash sent pregnant 17yo airborne
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 7:08amA boy racer pleaded guilty to manslaughter after hitting a pregnant teen while doing illegal burnouts in front of a crowd. The...
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National
All Black Caleb Clarke sped 110km/h through residential zone as police helicopter followed
Friday, 28 February 2025, 1:55pmNewly released court documents detail how All Blacks and Blues player Caleb Clarke fled from police in December. He was...
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Crime
Convictions overturned, charges dropped against ex-CYF carer accused of abusing boys
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 12:32pmEarl William Opetaia was convicted in 2021 of abusing five boys in his care through CYFS, but the Court of Appeal secretly...
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Crime
Auckland police officer accused of fatal motorcycle pursuit instead found guilty of dangerous driving
Monday, 24 February 2025, 2:15pmAn Auckland motorcycle police officer was acquitted of dangerous driving causing death but found guilty of a lesser charge. The...
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National
'Apologetic and embarrassed': All Blacks star admits dangerous driving, evading police
Monday, 24 February 2025, 11:18amAll Blacks and Blues player Caleb Clarke admitted to dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. His lawyer seeks a...
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National
‘Pop, pop, pop’: Killer Beez member's inside account of gang war shootings
Monday, 24 February 2025, 6:56amKiller Beez member Desmond Hiko has been sentenced to four years and seven months in prison. Hiko admitted to participating...
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National
Murder-accused shares memories of point blank Queen St shooting
Saturday, 22 February 2025, 2:18pmMurder defendant Darish Talagi has addressed jurors directly, giving evidence in his High Court trial. He said he was surprised...
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Crime
‘Execution’ or self-defence? Jury watches distressing CCTV footage of Queen St killing
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 2:57pmJurors watched CCTV footage of Dariush Talagi shooting Sione Tuuholoaki in the head on Queen St. Prosecutors described the...
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National
‘Hang your head in shame’: Judge blasts woman for horrific 24-day kidnap, torture scheme
Monday, 17 February 2025, 8:47amBernadette Rawiri was jailed for six years and two months for her role in a kidnapping. Kayla Pawa was tortured for 24 days...
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Crime
‘Total disregard’: Serial thief jailed after bizarre Maserati, Bentley heist at $10m property
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 9:05amAn Auckland man with 70 theft convictions was jailed after being caught with a stolen Bentley. He was sentenced to 22 months...
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National
Woman jailed for 156km/h crash that killed sister after Mother’s Day ‘bottomless brunch’
Sunday, 2 February 2025, 1:49pmArohanui Siakifilo’s bid for a non-custodial sentence was rejected after a fatal crash. Siakifilo, intoxicated and speeding,...
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Crime
'My baby!': Protective mother shielded 3yo as masked strangers invaded motel room, swinging bat
Friday, 17 January 2025, 6:19pmThree men were sentenced to prison for a violent motel room invasion involving a mother and her toddler. Judge Simon Lance...
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Crime
Social media influencer outed as serial sex offender
Thursday, 16 January 2025, 4:25pmDavid Chai Pegler, a former social media influencer better known as David Grr, has been identified as a serial sexual predator. Pegler...
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Crime
Avondale murder case: Auckland man's identity withheld to inform family in China
Monday, 13 January 2025, 1:31pmA 36-year-old man accused of murdering a woman in Avondale has been granted interim name suppression. Judge Ajit Swaran Singh...
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National
'Desperate, greedy': Dream wedding prompted bride-to-be's $61k Briscoes swindle
Sunday, 12 January 2025, 9:00amMele Hala was sentenced to community detention for a nine-month swindle at Briscoes, totalling $61,164. Judge Maria Pecoticemphasised...
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Crime
$340,000 missing: Gambling addict Auckland property manager sentenced for fraud
Tuesday, 24 December 2024, 9:20amChirag Harilal Mistry’s home detention was extended after he swindled another $112,000 from Ray White. Mistry used fraudulent...
