Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui neighbour war ends up in court

Whanganui Chronicle
12 Aug, 2017 02:00 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Judge Philip Crayton has sentenced a woman who assaulted a neighbour and an officer nine months of supervision.

Judge Philip Crayton has sentenced a woman who assaulted a neighbour and an officer nine months of supervision.

A Whanganui brawl between neighbours ended with an assaulted police officer but context is key, says defence lawyer.

Vanessa Sturzaker, 26, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault; one common assault, one assault against a person with a blunt instrument and one for assaulting a police officer.

On Tuesday in the Whanganui District Court defence lawyer Anna Brosnahan said it was a serious offence but there was context to it in terms of the environment and the element of self-defence.

Judge Philip Crayton said diversion had been offered to Sturzaker but was no longer available.

"It is unfortunate diversion is no longer able to take place due to your no attendance when required."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said it was an unusual set of circumstances where Sturzaker became aggravated with her neighbour and struck at that person with a blunt object three times.

"When police arrived you struck at the officer. I accept that was not your intention but the assault did take place," Judge Crayton said.

Ms Brosnahan said Sturzaker had a lack of ability that got herself into that situation where she becomes a victim and suggested supervision as an appropriate sentence.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"She doesn't have a car and she is living on her own [in Castlecliff] and fails to appear in court as a result. She also has ongoing health problems," Ms Brosnahan said.

Judge Philip Crayton convicted Sturzaker and sentenced her to nine months of supervision.

"I hope you can get yourself an address in a more supported environment. I'm going to assist that by imposing nine months' supervision to get you in that supportive environment.

"It's up to you whether you take this opportunity," Judge Crayton said.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

'Community coming together' for 24-hr vigil outside MP's office

31 Oct 12:52 AM
Whanganui Chronicle

Mayor welcomes historic Whanganui council at Pūtiki Marae

30 Oct 10:46 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

'Not much we can do': Backhouse tenants told to leave

30 Oct 05:00 PM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

'Community coming together' for 24-hr vigil outside MP's office
Whanganui Chronicle

'Community coming together' for 24-hr vigil outside MP's office

The Whanganui Palestinian Solidarity Group was part of a nationwide campaign.

31 Oct 12:52 AM
Mayor welcomes historic Whanganui council at Pūtiki Marae
Whanganui Chronicle

Mayor welcomes historic Whanganui council at Pūtiki Marae

30 Oct 10:46 PM
'Not much we can do': Backhouse tenants told to leave
Whanganui Chronicle

'Not much we can do': Backhouse tenants told to leave

30 Oct 05:00 PM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP