Selwyn_Times: March 13, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday March 13 2024
HAYDN LAUNCHES A CLEARANCE
STORE OFFERING EXCEPTIONAL
VALUE ON PAINTING AND
DECORATING TOOLS
22
NEWS
Haydn, a revered name in the Painting
& Decorating industry for over five
decades, proudly announces the opening
of its first-ever factory seconds shop. As a
100% New Zealand owned and operated
family business, Haydn has been a trusted
supplier for more than 50 years, serving
more than 1,300 retailers nationwide.
Located at 8 Detroit Drive in the
Rolleston Industrial Zone area of
Christchurch, Haydn Outlet Store
accessories, cleaning products, tapes and
much more.
CEO Trevor Haydon explains, “Our
main goal with the outlet store is to
provide our customers with access to
items that, for commercial reasons, would
not be available through our traditional
retail channels. In practice this means
we will stock anything from short run,
discontinued or deleted lines, through
to products with minor imperfections,
Haydn Outlet Store at 8 Detroit Drive
promises to be a haven for DIY aficionados
& tradies alike that are seeking an eclectic
range of painting and decorating tools and
hardware at incredible prices.
The outlet store will offer a constantly
changing array of products including
paint brushes, artist and cosmetic brushes,
rollers, roller sleeves, paint tools and
hardware, protective wear, clothing and
accessories, surface protection, painting
Head Office at 2 Link Drive, Izone
incorrect or obsolete packaging,
essentially lines that are either no longer in
production or possessing any defect that
will not adversely affect any performance
characteristic.”
Operating from Monday to Friday, 7:30
am to 4:00 pm, the store welcomes both
trade professionals and the general public
to explore this unique selection of painting
and decorating items.
COURTROOM: Crime journalist Sam Sherwood giving evidence at the
Michael McGrath murder trial.
PHOTO: POOL
Sim card used to
send texts linked to
Benbow’s cellphone
• From page 21
Keen to see what more “Nigel” would
tell me, I asked why he thought police
were treating Benbow the way they were
and whether he thought McGrath was still
alive.
“It’s not just the police, look at the way
you are treating David. As outlined, they
have not looked outside the box and
explored all other options. One would
presume vital evidence has now been lost
if anything untoward has happened to
McGrath.”
I replied it must be hard for Benbow not
knowing what happened, considering they
were “good friends”.
“They were good friends and he hasn’t
been given a chance to grieve over a missing
friend. Also, information circulating
(suggests) Michael McGrath (was) not a
complete angel as displayed,” he replied.
I asked what sort of information he was
referring to, and Nigel replied: “Maybe
(we’ll) talk next week. You have enough
to go on for now. See what you deliver.
Cheers, Nigel.”
I saved the number in my phone as
“Benbow’s friend” and sent three more
texts to Nigel with questions, but I never
heard back.
I also texted Benbow on March 21,
saying I had been talking to “Nigel”, and
wanted to see if he wanted to talk. There
was no response.
After about a week, I informed the officer
in charge of the case at the time about
the messages, believing I was likely talking
to Benbow and he was using a phone
number that may not be known to police,
thinking it might be of use.
Nearly five years on, I sat in the High
Court at Christchurch reading the messages
in open court. Asked by the Crown
why I was confident I was speaking to
Benbow, I said the term “witch-hunt” and
the amount of information the person had
about Green’s car and when she left work
had piqued my suspicions.
After I left the courtroom, a police officer
gave evidence about how police were able
to identify the Sim card for the number
belonging to “Nigel” that had been used in
Benbow’s cellphone.
It also emerged Benbow actually admitted
to sending me the text messages.
However, the exact reason why remains
unknown.
The trial ended with the jury unable to
reach a verdict and a retrial was ordered.
About a week before the retrial, I was
advised by police the defence had opposed
the admissibility of my evidence and the
judge had ruled in their favour, meaning I
would not be called for the second trial.
Benbow’s defence argued the jury could
find him using the alias Nigel and a new
Sim card was “unusual conduct”, and gave
risk the jury would draw an “adverse inference”
as to his character.
They believed such an inference would
be wrong and unfair as Benbow was
“simply responding to persistent media
requests that he comment on the police
investigation”.
Alternatively, the defence suggested
the text messages could be admitted as
evidence, but the Crown should not be allowed
to mention that Benbow used a false
name and a new Sim card.
In reply, the Crown said the evidence
was another strand of its circumstantial
case.
They said in referring to “grieving”, a
jury would be entitled to infer Benbow
knew McGrath was dead rather than missing.
They also argued the “disparaging comments”
about Green were “probative of
guilt” and reflected an attempt by Benbow
to distance himself from the police investigation.
Justice Jonathan Eaton did not accept
the Crown’s arguments and said the fact
Benbow used an alias and a different
phone number was of “low probative
value”.
“Whilst I do not consider the evidence
would have a significant prejudicial effect
on the proceedings, it is likely to lead the
jury to consider Mr Benbow’s behaviour to
have been odd.
“There is a risk the jury would equate
odd behaviour with guilt. That would give
rise to unfair prejudice.”
In the end, it did not matter. Benbow
was convicted of McGrath’s murder.
– NZ Herald