Sounds Murders – Hukerenui Bashing – Odometer Fraud Sentencing – Cancer Sauce – CD Cleaner Sales Court Appearance – John Lee Hooker

SOUNDS MURDERS: The Ben Smart and Olivia Hope murder case has burst back into the public eye today with the release of official information about the search for the pair of missing teenager’s bodies. Inspector Rob Pope wrote in the documents that there was a high probability that Ben and Olivia were near a contact point identified by a naval search. Pope wanted a closer look using a commercial firm and its diving robot. Police commanders did not approve the expenditure. The Minister says that it is an example of a tough decision having to be made by the police. Inspector Pope said cost was not the only reason the money wasn’t spent. The opposition want the money spent. Speaking to the families today, they want the search completed. Everyone wants closure but there are problems.

HUKERENUI BASHING: A savage attack on a school principal at Hukerenui in her home is concerning locals. Police say the attack occurred on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. They think there was a fire set in the house after the attack. Locals say the victim was a very nice person. Forensic tests are now being carried out on Susan Brown’s house. Ms Brown is in a critical condition in Auckland hospital.

ODOMETER FRAUD SENTENCING: A man who admitted winding back 91 car odometers has been sentenced in Auckland to 3.5 years in jail. Fong Do purchased nearly 2000 cars at auction and wound back about half the odometers. Do has previous offences. His defence said he was a refugee. Do’s family have suffered greatly, his lawyer said. The judge accepted there were mitigating factors in the offending and gave Do credit for an early guilty plea.

CANCER SAUCE: The Ministry of Health is recommending people not eat soy sauce products following a warning from the UK. At least three brands available in NZ have been shown to have cancer causing chemicals in the UK.

CD CLEANER SALES COURT APPEARANCE: The Timaru man who has been selling the drug One4b as a CD Cleaner has been charged under the Food Act for selling CD cleaner illegally. James McNee appeared confident as he appeared in court. Under the Food Act McNee faces up to a year in jail or a $100,000 fine.

BLUESMAN DIES: 83 year old bluesman John Lee Hooker has died. Hooker recorded more than 180 albums. In 1997 he and Van Morrison won a Grammy award. Lots of big stars have shared a stage with Hooker. In 1998 Hooker was inducted into Hollywood’s walk of fame. Like many bluesman Hooker started out with spirituals.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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