Diversion refused for looting accused

Alleged Christchurch earthquake looter Arie Smith. Photo / 3 News

Police have refused diversion for an autistic man charged with looting, and the case will now go to a disputed facts hearing in May.

Cornelius Arie Smith-Voorkamp, 25, has admitted the burglary of a damaged Lincoln Road property and possession of tools for burglary, and had been remanded on bail to today for the police to consider the diversion scheme for first offenders.

They told Judge Jane McMeeken at the Christchurch District Court sitting at Rangiora today that they would not grant diversion.

Defence counsel Simon Buckingham then said that although Smith-Voorkamp had admitted the charges some details in the police's summary of facts were disputed.

Smith-Voorkamp has Asperger's syndrome and has a compulsion to take light fittings, which is what he was doing when he was arrested soon after the February 22 earthquake.

He was filmed by a television crew at a court sitting in the Christchurch Police Station watch house, and was described as "the face of looting" before the family caring for him made his medical condition known.

Mr Buckingham has now said a complaint would be laid about his client being allegedly assaulted at the time of his arrest. At his first appearance in court, Smith-Voorkamp had a black eye.

The disputed facts hearing is to be held on May 10.

- NZPA