<strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>March</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 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 <strong>March</strong> 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
Wednesday <strong>March</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 23 THE NEW GENERATION BIGGER, BOLDER AND NOW AVAILABLE AT MORRISON MITSUBISHI BOOK YOUR VIEWING AND TEST DRIVE TODAY!!! CHRISTCHURCH 1-3 LOWTHER STREET, SOCKBURN ROUNDABOUT 03 341 2020 ASHBURTON 177 ARCHIBALD STREET, TINWALD 03 307 9028 www.morrisonmitsubishi.co.nz