KEY POINTS:
Newly planted roses found themselves in the frontline of a dispute between neighbours in a quiet street in one of Christchurch's hill suburbs.
The dispute has ended up with one of the neighbours, a 52-year-old woman, looking rather out of place in a Christchurch District Court dock today.
She pleaded guilty to charges of trespass and wilful damage of the roses, which were said to be worth up to $50.
Her name cannot be published because of an interim suppression order granted by Judge David Saunders. Neither can the street be identified.
Paul Johnson, defence counsel for the retired woman, sought the suppression because there was "significant background" to the case, he wanted to put in references for the woman, and he also wanted to provide medical evidence.
Police prosecutor Ash Tabb told the court the woman was given a trespass notice requiring her to stay off a neighbouring property on October 28.
At 6.42am on a morning in December, she was seen to walk on to the property and spray the weedkiller Roundup onto freshly planted roses. She then walked away, and when she was questioned she denied any trespassing or spraying.
She pleaded not guilty when the case came to court after Christmas, but changed her plea to guilty at a status hearing today.
Mr Johnson said he would seek a discharge without conviction for the woman, so Judge Saunders did not enter the conviction when he remanded her to March 28.
The court will then consider the references, medical evidence, and submissions on final suppression, and the judge asked the police to find out exactly how much damage was done to the roses so that reparation could be ordered.
- NZPA