Gunman's partner loses bail bid

The partner of Napier gunman Jan Molenaar has been refused bail pending appeal against a sentence of two years and three months for drug offending.

Delwyn Ismalia Keefe, 44, was jailed last December after pleading guilty to one charge of selling cannabis, one of offering to sell the drug and one of having cannabis for sale.

She has appealed against the length of the sentence, claiming it was manifestly excessive, and applied for bail while waiting for her appeal to be heard.

But Court of Appeal judge Justice Ellen France declined her application, saying that bail pending appeal was only granted in exceptional circumstances.

Justice France ruled that the grounds of appeal were not sufficient to grant bail however an early date should be set for the appeal. Dates were available in June and July in Auckland and Wellington.

Molenaar shot and killed police officer Len Snee on May 7 last year before taking his own life during the subsequent siege.

Police had found evidence of a cannabis operation at the couple's house.

The couple had been operating a "tinnie house" for about five years, though Keefe's role was less than that of Molenaar who was said to be the "driving force" behind the operation.

- NZPA