Elizabeth Healey was the only one of the trio to give evidence at the trial, at which she was represented by Napier barrister Scott Jefferson. Photo / Thinkstock
Elizabeth Healey was the only one of the trio to give evidence at the trial, at which she was represented by Napier barrister Scott Jefferson. Photo / Thinkstock
A jury yesterday found twin sisters guilty on a charge of aggravated burglary in a home invasion, in which they were armed with knives and a roasting prong in Flaxmere 15 months ago.
Rebecca Healey and Elizabeth Rangihera Healey, 45, had pleaded not guilty when their trial started in NapierDistrict Court on Wednesday.
Elizabeth Healey's partner, 43-year-old Kelvin Patrick Taurerewa Edmonds, also denied the charge and was acquitted by the jury of eight men and four women, which deliberated for about an hour late yesterday at the end of a trial before Judge Bridget Mackintosh.
The trial related to events after the trio drove to the house in Kingsley Dr, Flaxmere, early on the night of May 5 last year.
Crown prosecutor Fiona Cleary had told the court the raid was launched after Rebecca Healey became angry over not being invited to a legal highs smoking session. The target of the incident was not home when the group arrived, and a boarder said the twins burst in demanding to know the whereabouts of their target and began smashing up the house.
Elizabeth Healey was the only one of the trio to give evidence at the trial, at which she was represented by Napier barrister Scott Jefferson.
Rebecca Healey, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening a woman in text and Facebook message earlier on the day of the raid, was represented by Richard Stone. Edmonds, the only one of the trio who had made a statement to police, was represented by Matt Dixon and Darren Foster.
The twins were granted bail and remanded for sentence on September 3.
