A Moment In Crime

This episode contains strong language.

In 2001 Bruce Thomas Howse murdered his stepdaughters Olympia Jetson and Saliel Aplin as they lay in their beds at their Masterton home.

The girls - aged just 11 and 12 - had suffered years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of Howse and despite their cries for help, it never came.

Today A Moment In Crime is about the tragic deaths of the young sisters and the impact on their family, particularly their older sister Alicia. 

This episode of A Moment In Crime deals with child abuse, sexual assault and murder and may not be suitable for some listeners.

If you need help or you are worried about someone else - see below for a list of help and support agencies.

For more on this case:

Sister of murdered Masterton siblings speaks out about abuse, violence and murder

Killer's ex tells of fight to keep children safe

Reports into girls' deaths find fault with CYF

Are you worried about the safety of a child?

If you have concerns about the immediate safety of a child, call 111.

Alternative call the police non-emergency reporting line on 105.

Or, contact Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children on 0508 326 459 for advice or click here to visit the agency's website for more information.

Sexual harm - do you need help?

If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.​

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact the Safe to Talk confidential crisis helpline:

Text: 4334

Email: [email protected]

Visit https://safetotalk.nz/contact-us/ for an online chat

Domestic violence and abuse - do you need help?

If you're in danger now - phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.

Where to go for help or more information:

Shine: Free national helpline available 24/7 -  0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz

Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz

Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In January 2020 Rena Joyce walked into a Christchurch police station and made a startling confession. 

She told officers she had killed her partner Martin Berry and that his body was buried in the compost heap at his home. 

Following a trial in March 2022 Joyce - who had previous convictions for assaulting her partner - was found guilty of murdering Berry and in May she was sentenced to life in prison. 

In this bonus episode of A Moment In Crime, Herald senior journalist Anna Leask goes inside the trial - and the sentencing. 

 

For more on this case visit:

Rena Joyce sentenced to life in prison for murdering partner, dumping body in compost

Murdered and buried in his own garden - family speak about 'horrendous' death of Christchurch victim Martin Berry

 

Do you need help or advice around domestic violence:

• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz
• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584
• It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz

If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2007 Christchurch woman Emma Louise Agnew was found dead - murdered by a man she met while trying to sell her car.

The 20-year-old was reported missing on November 15 and her body was found 12 days later, hidden beneath vegetation and pine needles near a holiday park in the north of the city.

Emma's death was shocking and tragic - but when details emerged of what happened to her and who was responsible, there was outrage. 

Liam James Reid was arrested the day after Emma was found and charged with rape and murder.

By the time he went on trial in 2008 he had also been charged with the rape, attempted murder and robbery of a 21-year-old student in Dunedin nine days after Emma was killed. 

In this episode of A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask delves into Reid's horrendous offending and the impact it has had over the years.

For more on Reid's life of crime click the link below or visit nzherald.co.nz

The Big Read: Rapist, murderer Liam Reid hopeful of new appeal

SEXUAL HARM - DO YOU NEED HELP? If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.​

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact the Safe to Talk confidential crisis helpline on:

Text 4334 and they will respond
Email [email protected]
Visit https://safetotalk.nz/contact-us/ for an online chat

Alternatively, contact your local police station. If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1992 Susan Burdett was found dead in her South Auckland home.

The 39-year-old had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death with a baseball bat she kept by her bed for protection. 

Susan's story was awful and tragic but would become much more so when the wrong man was convicted of her murder and jailed for more than 20 years.

In this month's episode of Herald podcast A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask looks into the death of Susan Burdett and the botched police investigation that led to Teina Pora being arrested and charged a year later. 

Pora, a 17-year-old petty criminal, confessed to the murder after hearing about a significant reward offered by police for information that would lead to the killer being identified. 

But there was no other evidence linking Pora to the scene and his confession was jumbled, vague and changed by the minute. 

Two juries went on to convict Pora before an ex-detective got involved and fought for him to be freed. 

It was not until after the Privy Council quashed Pora's convictions that the real killer - serial rapist Malcolm Rewa  - was held to account.

FOR MORE ON THE CASE VISIT NZHERALD.CO.NZ OR CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO ACCESS CONTENT:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-the-justice-system-failed-teina-pora/W4VPIZR6JDHMU4VHY7PLEBZCEI/Judge:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/judge-teina-pora-innocent-entire-crown-case-rejected/B7LVXQK7FNRUVSKLP2L6AKKIGM/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/serial-rapist-malcolm-rewa-jailed-for-life-for-1992-murder-of-susan-burdett/TWJNAO25RH77V2M242XXYRS2MA/?c_id=1&objectid=12216145

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/malcolm-rewa-survivors-heartbreaking-letter-i-thought-he-would-kill-me/PCCLD3DA4BFAAWCRTB4DJ7MTUA/?c_id=1&objectid=12206068

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/serial-rapist-malcolm-rewa-guilty-of-murdering-susan-burdett-in-1992/UCRYHDRG3ROT6YWRECKSORC4IM/?c_id=1&objectid=12205665

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/i-hope-to-get-justice-for-my-sister-susan-burdetts-brother-on-teina-pora-decision/HYXO4ZMD7XXL7XM7KPZBIQVONA/

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In September 2003 Helen Meads was gunned down at her Matamata home by her husband Greg. 

She was shot at close range, her body found soon after by police in the stables at the property she shared with her racehorse breeder husband Greg Meads. 

Meads was charged with Helen's murder and it later emerged that their marriage had been rife with domestic violence and the last fatal assault came after she announced she was leaving. 

Meads denied that he meant to kill Helen.

While he admitted to shooting her, he claimed it was an accident - that he went to confront her about why she was leaving him, that he took the loaded gun, that it went off by mistake.

But after a high-profile High Court trial Meads was found guilty of Helen's murder.

He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years before he could apply for parole.

In today's episode of Herald podcast A Moment In Crime, senior journalist Anna Leask revisits Helen Meads' life, death and legacy. 

In this episode you will hear about the marriage marred by abuse, violence and control; Helen's last days and the harrowing ordeal her parents endured after she died. 

READ MORE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/it-was-a-deliberate-act-i-killed-helen-after-13-years-of-untruths-and-lies-matamata-horse-breeder-admits-murdering-wife/T2AJE2JUV5V76QHRODR2234MOA/

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - DO YOU NEED HELP?

If you're in danger now:

• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.
• Run outside and head for where there are other people.
• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.
• Take the children with you.
• Don't stop to get anything else.
• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay

Where to go for help or more information:

• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz 
• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz 
• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 
• It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 8 1997 Stephen Lawrence Anderson gunned down six people and wounded five others during a rampage at a ski lodge just out of Raurimu in the central North Island. The tragedy remains one of the worst mass shootings in New Zealand history. In this episode, Anna Leask revisits the day of the massacre and speaks to survivors, witnesses and the cop who took down the killer. The gunman also shares his story in his own words.

For more on this case visit:

Remembering Raurimu: victims break their 20-year silence
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/remembering-raurimu-victims-break-their-20-year-silence/6BDSEYTTCMIRAZKXBXFBCLQ7FY/

Raurimu 20 years on: the madman, the massacre and the memories
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/raurimu-20-years-on-the-madman-the-massacre-and-the-memories/2FGFIGPFPXMX3IPPIXD6VCW2NI/?c_id=1&objectid=11788645

Raurimu massacre: remembering the fallen 20 years on
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/raurimu-massacre-remembering-the-fallen-20-years-on/4E6CRIG2PFWVL26JVBGNOQFFWY/?c_id=1&objectid=11787718

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

Lifeline
http://www.lifeline.org.nz

SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE
0508 828 865

DEPRESSION HELPLINE
0800 111 757

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a Monday morning in June 2004 Jim Donnelly got up and went to work at a steel mill south of Auckland. But he never came home. The metals scientist has been missing every since and his wife has never given up hope that one day the mystery will be solved.

For a full feature on this case visit nzherald.co.nz

If you have information about what happened to Jim Donnelly contact Inspector Dave Glossop at the Counties Manukau Police [email protected] or A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask [email protected]

To pass on information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Holdem was a prolific sex offender and told police when he was arrested in the early 80s that the next little girl he targeted would die. In 1986 he grabbed Louisa Damodran as she walked home from school and his horrific promise came true.

For more on this case and others mentioned in the podcast visit: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/anna-leask/

SEXUAL HARM - DO YOU NEED HELP?
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.​
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact the Safe to Talk confidential crisis helpline on: text 4334 and they will respond or email [email protected] or visit https://safetotalk.nz/contact-us/ for an online chat
If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death of Christie Marceau in November 2011 shook New Zealand. The 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in her own home and died in her mother's arms. The man responsible for the attack was on bail for previously kidnapping and assaulting Christie and had been released on bail 32 days before he killed her. He had been ordered to stay away from Christie and her family. This episode of A Moment In Crime marks the 10-year anniversary of Christie's tragic death.

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

For more information on Christie's life and death:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/i-watched-the-life-drain-out-of-her/W7XMAX2ZAHPPXJHKJRQAHOAWJA/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/terrifying-last-moments-at-hands-of-insane-killer/4BWAKHXTDY5KMOSNDV5XHO5P5E/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christie-marceau-tragedy-and-futility-of-death-lead-to-major-recommendations-by-coroner/T3FNF443G2VQPK2ICL7K7QZO3I/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christie-marceau-death-there-was-more-than-one-hand-on-the-knife-that-day/JSL4OVKK4K62XY4ZOKPQCKYWRE/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Herald journalist Anna Leask looks back at the case of Colin Mitchell - the man behind an attack on a Auckland woman in 2017. What started as an apparent random attack soon unravelled as four decades of offending by a serial rapist who was finally revealed.
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.​ If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact the Safe to Talk confidential crisis helpline by texting 4334 and they will respond or visit https://safetotalk.nz/contact-us/ for an online chat.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.