Catherine Hutton is an Open Justice reporter, based in Wellington.
Catherine has worked as a journalist for 20 years, including at the Waikato Times and RNZ. Most recently she was working as a media advisor at the Ministry of Justice.
'Felt like I was rock-climbing': Scientist on attic access in murder case
An ESR scientist suspected a staged scene at a Wellington death.
'Multiple blows to the head': Victim died after she was hit while standing, possibly with a vase
The court heard there was blood in several parts of Helen Gregory's Khandallah home.
Tenant in fight with Kāinga Ora over dogs evicted after repeated abuse
He was repeatedly aggressive towards staff, yelling and telling them to 'f*** off'.
Lawyers for woman accused of murdering her mother suggest police had tunnel vision in investigation
The defence claims it was not considered whether the death was the result of a burglary.
'Warzone': Daughter describes walking into bloodied scene in mother's home
Julia DeLuney is accused of killing her mother and staging the scene before she left.
'Significant amount of blood:' Paramedics recount grisly scene in Wellington murder trial
Julia DeLuney is accused of killing her 79-year-old mother Helen Gregory in 2024.
'Peculiar way': Murder victim had $50,000 cash hidden in her freezer
Julia DeLuney is on trial for allegedly killing her mother, Helen Gregory, 79, in 2024.
Daughter denies violently killing elderly mum, staging scene to look like a fall
The Crown says the former school teacher was facing financial difficulties at the time.
'I will kill you all': Woman carried child while shoplifting, threatened to stab staff
The 24-year-old shoplifted 19 times last year, stealing more than $12,000 in goods.
‘Sink it, for all I care’: Mother calls for crane's removal after son’s fatal fall
Two people have died after jumping off the historic Hikitia crane in Wellington.
Man on meth hit water at 98km/h after Wellington crane leap
Jarreth Colquhoun waved to a crowd below before jumping into Wellington Harbour.
'I hope you pay': Grieving whānau face birthday shooting killer
Rawiri Wharerau was fatally shot at his house while hosting a party for his cousin.
'Boom, boom, you can all die': Man's explosive outburst ends tenancy
Quinton Rihari has lost his Salvation Army flat in Dunedin as a result of his behaviour.
Drunk meth-driver was in 'rage' over relationship when she fatally hit young cyclist
She has now admitted to Emma-Jane Sylvia Kupa’s manslaughter.
'Rare case': Woman's murder charge dismissed after three weeks of evidence
Judge dismisses Karori case as unsuitable for jury consideration.
'He looked all pale': Woman recalls discovering dead body in her bed
She denies sending Facebook messages shortly before Rau Tongia was killed in bed.
Toddler drowns in septic tank: Coroner says focus should be on safety, not blame
Whanganui toddler Kelvin Chand fell into an uncovered septic tank on lifestyle block.
'Senseless vandalism': Group cause $75k damage after sneaking on to airport runway
The men damaged an Air Chathams plane and runway lights while driving on the runway.
Teen who bashed mother to death with dumbbell says life sentence is unfair
Jordan Taylor's lawyers say his upbringing and age should have been taken into account.
'Grossest depravity': Man jailed for helping run child sex abuse website
Family bewildered 'gentle and loyal man' could be involved in harming children.
'Heartbroken': Father jailed after breaking baby's leg, arms, ribs and skull
The 22-year-old initially tried to claim his 3-month-old son had fallen off the bed.
'Feared for her life': Man tried to strangle ex before setting her clothes on fire
A man hit his ex-girlfriend on the head and when she fled upstairs, he burned her clothes.
Man's bedroom meth stash enough to supply Wellington region for two months
He failed to convince a judge that the stash was to feed his own addiction.
'Sounded like fireworks': Woman describes hearing noise on the night man was shot in his bed
Court hears woman accused of being party to a murder suffered panic attack after he died.
'Kill him': Crown alleges woman's Facebook messages incited man's murder
But the woman's lawyer said the murder would have happened regardless.
Unlawful property seizures by police leave woken grandmother outside, sick man to walk home
IPCA finds Wellington police unlawfully seized vehicles for unpaid fines.
'The truth and you are strangers': Judge's verdict on dishonest offender
The judge said the man told probation 'inaccuracies and untruths'.
Inmate imported $15m of drugs into NZ - all from behind bars
Gang member Elijah Daveron used phones that were smuggled into prison for the deals.
Hospital's standard of care fell short: Baby stillborn after high-risk mum had three bleeds
The HDC is critical about some aspects of the woman's care at Auckland Hospital.
Supreme Court hears case on employment status of family carers
'He just continued to work and they paid for it,' lawyer says of Ministry funding change.
'Unlawful and unworkable': Family carers take fight for recognition to Supreme Court
Carers Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys want the work they do recognised.
City to Sea bridge lobby group claim council's demolition decision flawed
The Wellington Civic Trust is challenging the council's demolition plan in the High Court.
Sister's kindness ends in sibling stand-off at Tenancy Tribunal
The brother also parked unused cars on the property and added an extension to the cabin.
'A prison of my own trauma': Woman addresses life-shattering night she was raped by three men
Victim battles with “suffocating” PTSD and depression after sex attack.
'Burden on my family': New employee hospitalised for six months after falling 6m off a roof
Prowash has been fined more than $120,000 after a WorkSafe prosecution over the incident.
Expletives in court as verdicts returned in 50th birthday party shooting
Rawiri Wharerau was shot and killed and his brother was shot and injured in 2023.
Fatal leap: Man drowns after slipping in gumboots while rock fishing
A coroner has highlighted the dangers of rock fishing after Cameron Zimmerman's death.
Tenant who fled rental property on short notice left behind damage and 500kg of rubbish
The woman had grounds to go early, but she still had a responsibility to leave it clean.
Family's emotional courtroom farewell to man jailed for violating young girl
The man was granted permanent name suppression for the sake of his children.
'A positive development': Man appears in court charged with Simon Bird's murder
The 23-year-old man has been granted interim name suppression.
Woman accused of 50th b'day party murder dumped the gun in her friend's backyard
Rawiri Wharerau was fatally shot and his brother Hemi seriously wounded in 2023.
‘An eye for an eye’: Gang member accused of murder says hit put on his life
The defendant gave his account of the shooting that left one dead and another injured.
Former Commonwealth Games boxer avoids jail despite raft of drug charges
The death of Joseph Blackbourn's coach led to him spiralling out of control.
‘Worst f***ing flight’: CEO’s disdain at executive assistant over business-class seat
Now the former employee has been awarded more than $100k in a personal grievance case.
'Dealt the wrong cards': Tearful mum defends son caught with 20,000 child abuse images
Judge Sainsbury called the images 'truly disturbing and grotesque'.
Here to stay: Court rules Wellington's rainbow crossing doesn't compromise safety
Wellington’s Cuba St rainbow crossing was painted in October 2018.
Judge Ema Aitken awaits her fate after incident at exclusive Auckland club
Judge Aitken awaits her fate after a judicial review into the decision to investigate her.
What happened at the NZ First event? Judge's defence of alleged Northern Club incident
NZ First claims she shouted: 'He’s lying! How can you let him say that?'.
Woman steals $1m from trust helping needy kids, splashes out on online gambling
When the bank became suspicious, she sent a reply pretending to be another employee.
Man who raped woman lying next to sleeping child claims he got his ‘wires crossed’
The court told the rapist his explanation 'smacks' of reducing the gravity of offending.
Key witness in gang-related murder trial arrested, made to testify
Woman did not come to court when summonsed because her safety had been threatened.
Deadly 50th birthday party: Host recalls feeling ‘paralysed’ after being shot
Hemi Wharerau was badly injured and his brother Rawiri was killed in a shooting.
'It went past my hand’: B'day party fatal shooting witness describes chaos as bullets flew
The woman described the final moments before the victim was shot and fell to the ground.
‘Devastating’: Council ignored known risks at waterfront where man died – coroner
'You lose a son, you don’t come back from that,' the bereaved father of Sandy Calkin says.
Gang couple allegedly fled town, left child behind, after fatal 50th birthday party shooting
But their lawyers say they didn't even know anyone was injured after the shooting.
Gang patch ban challenged, lawyer cites Nazi Germany, Taliban comparisons
Gang member Mana-Apiti Brown is appealing his conviction for wearing a Nomads cap.
‘Dishonest’: Landlord who found weapons, bong evicted tenant - but wasn’t upfront about why
Now the tenant has been awarded $12,000 after being left homeless.
Security guard beat his partner in public after late-night row in Wellington
Members of the public provided evidence that helped secure a conviction.
Foot fascination teacher says his 'soul was broken' when he stroked girls' feet
Matthew Sue claimed one girl was walking funny and he wanted to check her feet were okay.
Trial with $600k cash and 11kg meth: Man convicted on multiple drug charges
Guilty verdicts after police seize 11kg of meth, $600,000 cash, and 17 phones.
Defence argue for acquittal in major meth case, accuse police of failing to follow policy
The defendant was allegedly found with 11kg of meth, $600,000 in cash and 17 cellphones.
Rainbow crossing legal case about safety, not diversity
The Cuba St crossing was painted in 2018 to make Wellington more LGBTQI-friendly.
Travel company to stump up $140k for unlawful pay cuts during the pandemic
Employee's wages were cut twice during the pandemic without his written consent.
Driver who gave a gang member a lift was repaid with 18 punches, robbed of $1900
The victim was also kicked as he cowered on the ground and his car was damaged.
‘Can’t courier $1m of drugs’: Police under scrutiny over testing of 11kg meth find
A defence lawyer says all of the drug haul should have been driven to ESR in a police car.
$673,000 cash, 11.3kg meth found in drug searches, court hears
Crown says Sunia To'ofohe was a drug dealer; defence says he's a victim of poor policing.
Reeling in the fishers: Police called as man chucks pāua into ocean during standoff
The man said he panicked and feared his fishing gear would be taken.
Officers seize more than 22,000 banned items from people walking into court
Knives, homemade tasers and knuckledusters were among seized items.
Two young men, two bad decisions, two grieving families – Coroner issues festive season warning
Drink-driving: 'Do not do it ... and do everything you can to stop anyone else.'
'No cure for foolishness:' Man who sold stolen property online was 'a bit of a fool'
Abhinav Dutt's lawyer said his offending was very much out of character.
'Implausible, even fanciful:' Judge's reaction to man's claims he didn't know goods were stolen
Police seized 6000 stolen items after executing search warrants in Operation Trump Card.
Man who brutally murdered his friend, biting chunks from his ear, jailed for life
Wire Reddington had been on a two-day bender when he murdered Jamie Gill last year.
Girl confronted church volunteer after learning about sexual abuse at school
Stephen Rolston has been jailed for the 'distressing' abuse which lasted seven years.
Dame Kerry Prendergast wins stoush against her former council over parking ticket
Two JPs found no evidence that the area was properly designated as a footpath.
'You are mental, you bastard': Exes clash over wedding details during abuse trial
The judge called a short adjournment to allow the woman to compose herself.
'Nothing made him stop': Wife details decade of alleged violent sex abuse by porn-obsessed husband
The woman also claims she was forced to have sex involving toys several times a week.
Porn, sex toys and beatings: Couple's allegedly violent marriage revealed in assault trial
Ex-wife alleges years of abuse; defence claims her story changed to suit her interests.
Tenant leaves rental in awful condition - but takes carport, gate and garden shed
Landlord wins $27,000 after tenant left rental in 'damaged and very untidy state'.
'I've been framed': Man resentenced for killing after spending 7 years behind bars
Warren Pay, jailed for murder, is now free after being re-sentenced for manslaughter.
Man admits fatal punch in nightlife hotspot, taunting and kicking unconscious victim
Siale taunted and kicked his unconscious victim, who later died.