The Star: February 22, 2024

Thursday February 22 2024 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 3
Controversial intersection won’t be closed
• By Daniel Alvey
A BUSY intersection will
remain open after a close
community board vote sealed
its fate.
The Main South, Riccarton,
and Yaldurst Rds intersection
was recommended for closure
by city council staff, who said it
was a hot-spot for accidents.
“Over the last 10 years there
have been 81 crashes at the
Main South Rd and Yaldhurst
Rd intersection,” city council
transport operations manager
Stephen Wright said.
“Seventy of those involved vehicles
turning right from Main
South Rd and colliding with
vehicles on Riccarton Rd.”
Two people were seriously
injured, including a cyclist.
Wright said.
The contentious topic was
adjourned by the Waipuna
Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
Community Board last week
and a special meeting held on
Tuesday.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the
debate lasted for two and a half
hours before a decision was
made.
For the closure was Riccarton
Ward councillor Tyla Harrison-
Hunt, Halswell Ward councillor
Andrei Moore, and Halswell
Ward board member Marie
Pollisco.
Against the closure was
Hornby Ward councillor
Mark Peters, Hornby Ward
board member Henk Bunnk,
Halswell board member Debbie
Mora and board chair Helen
Broughton.
Hornby Ward board member
Sarah Brunton abstained, and
Riccarton Ward board member
Gamal Fouda was absent.
The board received 304
submissions on the proposal, of
which 54 were in favour of the
closure while 71 had concerns
about the closure.
Other measures including
cycle lanes, safe speed platforms
and a signalled pedestrian
crossing at Bush Inn shops will
be put in.
Food vandal busted
Quintin
Swanepoel
A VANDAL who targeted
vehicles and properties on a
St Albans street with fruit and
other foodstuffs for more than
a year has been intercepted by
police and issued with a trespass
notice.
Quintin
Swanepoel,
a Mersey St
resident, was
preparing to
hide in his
vehicle in an attempt
to record
and identify the
individual on
Sunday night,
a last resort to end the bizarre
attacks.
Ultimately, a neighbour
alerted Swanepoel to the individual’s
presence that night and
he contacted police, who arrived
promptly and interviewed the
man under a street light.
Police told Swanepoel the man
offered no explanation for his
behaviour before being issued
with the notice.
Swanepoel recorded the conversation
on his mobile phone
and hoped it marked the end of
regular attacks which spanned
more than a year.
In the latest attack on Valentine’s
Day cream was poured
over the windscreen of his car
and a tray of raw mince was
shoved into a neighbour’s letterbox.
The vandalism typically took
place between 1am and 4am.
“He turned up much earlier
than usual this time,” Swanepoel
said.
“A neighbour texted me
saying he’d spotted him. We
phoned the police, they turned
up very promptly and were extremely
helpful, very kind about
the situation.
“They questioned the man and
he denied it at first. In the end
he did admit he’s been doing it.
He said he had no reason for his
actions. Hopefully this is the
end,” Swanepoel said.
POLICE
INTERVENTION:
A man believed
responsible for a
spate of fruit and
food-based vandalism
in a St Albans street
being spoken to
by police. ​
SWEET, SOUR: The flow of food was slowed by windscreen
wipers on these vehicles.
Fatal stab
charges
dropped
• By Anna Leask
CHARGES HAVE been dropped
against the man arrested in
connection with the fatal stabbing
of Anaru Williams in a Hei Hei
park.
Williams was found dead with
stab wounds at Wycola Park in
the early hours of December 22.
A 36-year-old man was found at
the scene and taken into custody.
He later appeared in the district
court in December charged with
assault.
Days later a 31-year-old woman
appeared in court on a charge of
wounding with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm.
Another person was referred to
Youth Aid in relation to the fatal
attack.
Police have said they have not
ruled out further, more serious
charges. The man appeared in
court last Friday and his matter
was “finalised”.
“Police carried out a review
once the investigation was complete
and determined under the
Solicitor General’s Guidelines
the threshold for prosecution had
not been met in this instance,” a
police spokesperson confirmed.
“The charge was therefore
withdrawn.” The 36-year-old has
been granted permanent name
suppression.
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