Defendants sought for failed court appearance

Three defendants charged with aggravated burglary have failed to turn up at court.

Police were still looking for three defendants late yesterday who could cost taxpayers thousands of dollars after failing to turn up for their District Court trial in Napier.

They are Kelvin Patrick Edmonds, 43, and twin sisters Elizabeth Rangihera Healey and Rebecca Healey, 45, all of Flaxmere, each charged with aggravated burglary relating to a home invasion in Flaxmere almost 14 months ago.

The charge has a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. Rebecca Healey also faces a charge of threatening grievous bodily harm. All had been on bail pending the trial, but Judge Geoff Rea issued warrants for their arrest after they failed to show. Figures weren't available late yesterday, but it was thought more than 40 prospective jurors were sent away, each due the minimum daily jury service fee of $31, plus possible travelling, parking and child-care costs. The court also lost a day of sitting time, but was hopeful of another trial being able to start today.

A Courts Department spokesman described the adjournment of the trial because of the failure of the defendants to appear as "hugely frustrating."

"While we cannot break down how much this trial not going ahead has cost, it's important to note that there's also an impact on court scheduling," he said. "This was valuable court time that was wasted, and if this case needs to be rescheduled it will obviously mean more court time being taken up, which could have been allocated to other case scheduling."

He said the department wants cases to be able to move through the courts as quickly as possible, particularly to minimise stress and inconvenience for victims who are waiting for justice. The trial which was supposed to have started yesterday relates to an incident about 6pm on May 4 last year, in which two women allegedly armed with knives burst into a house in Kingsley Dr, Flaxmere, and demanded to see an occupant who had fled the property.

The intruders began smashing plates and a stereo, upturning furniture, and ripping down curtains, and threatening a boarder who was alone in the house, police allege. As the offenders left a third person entered the house and allegedly threatened the occupant about calling the police. Police allege two of the accused had earlier in the day been smoking legal-high psychoactive drugs with another woman. Afterwards, the third accused had become angry about being left out of the session.