The jury has gone out to consider its verdict in a case in which a police officer is accused of a cover up of the circumstances leading to the death of man fleeing custody.

NZTA cleared its registry of deceased licence holders, only to have 23 inform it they were still alive.

Simon Power has turned down calls for an independent inquiry into a 40-year-old murder mystery.

A son has given evidence against his own father, accused of the murder of a mother of four.

The Govt is proposing to end the right of a defendant to elect trial by jury for about 80 offences, including smacking a child.

One of NZ's most notorious killers was released from prison yesterday and was later enjoying freedom on the balcony of his new Auckland home.

A new bill, signed off today, will likely result in savings of 450 court days each year, the Govt says.