On May 5 2007 Lipine Sila murdered Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young and caused grievous bodily harm to eight other teens when he drove his car through a crowd outside a party in the Christchurch suburb of Edgeware.  The collision took place after Sila and his brother had been involved in fights at the gathering. Sila claimed he was scared for his life and was trying to get away from people attacking him - and that he never meant to harm any of the victims. However a jury found him guilty of murder and in 2008 he was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.  The murders were like nothing seen in New Zealand before. They impacted many in Christchurch - from the family and friends of the dead girls to their schoolmates and community, the wider city and the country.  There was anger towards Sila, toward those who organised the party - which had been widely shared and discussed on social media in the week leading up to it - and police for their response when it was clear it was about to go haywire. In this episode of A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask revisit the Edgeware Road murders - taking you inside the tragic party, the police handling of it and the trial and sentencing of one of the country's most notorious double murderers. For more on the murders and aftermath visit nzherald.co.nz or click on the links below. Brother admits 'I lost the plot' on night of deaths Edgeware Road murder trial evidence ends Murderer Sila convicted of prison assault Review clears police over Edgeware Rd A Moment In Crime is an NZME podcast produced monthly by Leask, who has been a specialist crime and justice reporter for almost two decades.  This episode was written and produced by Anna Leask and edited by NZME audio engineer James Irwin. If there is a case you would like Leask to consider covering please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In January 2008 Scottish woman Karen Aim was beaten to death while she was visiting Taupō on a trip around New Zealand. The 26-year-old was murdered in the street by a local teenager who had been vandalising a nearby school with a baseball bat. He then used the weapon to murder the innocent woman. Jahche Broughton was jailed for life and has been denied parole a number of times.  In this episode of A Moment In Crime host and senior journalist Anna Leask goes back to the day Karen died, speaking to the person who found her and raising the alarm. You'll also hear in-depth coverage of the court case and parole hearings of Karen's teen killer.  A woman attacked by Broughton a week before the murder also spoke to Leask. This episode outlines violent and sexual offending and is suitable for a mature audience.  For more on Karen's case and the prosecution of Jahche Broughton - visit nzherald.co.nz or click the links below. Teen killer Jahche Broughton gives new insight into brutal murder of Scottish tourist Karen Aim Backpacker murder: Karen Aim's killer Jahche Broughton declined parole Coroner's inquest into Karen Aim death Out of the darkness The podcast is produced by Leask iHeart radio podcast producer James Irwin and NZ Herald podcast production manager Ethan Sills. Episodes of a Moment In Crime are released monthly on nzherald.co.nz, iheart radio and all your usual podcast apps.   And if you love this podcast, you might enjoy another series Leask wrote and produced - Chasing Ghosts - which focuses on the disappearance of Southland toddler Amber-Lee Cruickshank. If you have a crime or case you’d like us to consider covering, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 30 marks the 20th anniversary of Waikato mother-of-three Sara Niethe's disappearance. Her body has never been found despite her boyfriend Mark Pakenham admitting he killed her. Pakenham was charged with her murder in 2011 but before his case went to trial he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. He has always refused to tell police where Niethe’s body is, but admitted he injected Niethe with methamphetamine on March 30, 2003, causing her death. Twenty years on from Sara's death her children - now all adults with their own families -have commissioned a new search and hope that finally, they can find the answers and evidence they have always longed for.  If you can help find Sara or have any information about her death email [email protected] or private investigator Bruce Currie [email protected] You can also contact the police on non-emergency phone number 105 or the anonymous crime reporting line Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  For more on Sara's case click on the links below: Cold-case killing: Shock guilty plea Sara Niethe killer's long history of drugs, threats Cold-case killer Mark Pakenham released on parole Sara Niethe cold case: New search under way for body of Waikato mum killed with a ‘shot of meth’ FAMILY VIOLENCE - DO YOU NEED HELP? If you're in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.• Run outside and head for where there are other people.• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.• Take the children with you.• Don't stop to get anything else.• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay Where to go for help or more information: • Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584• It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz CREDITS: A Moment In Crime is an NZME podcast written and hosted by Anna Leask, senior crime and justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald.  The podcast is produced by myself, iHeart radio podcast producer James Irwin and NZ Herald podcast production manager Ethan Sills. Episodes of a Moment In Crime are released monthly on nzherald.co.nz, iheart radio and all your usual podcast apps.   And if you love this podcast, you might enjoy another series I wrote and produced - Chasing Ghosts - which focuses on the disappearance of Southland toddler Amber-Lee Cruickshank. If you have a crime or case you’d like me to consider covering, email [email protected]    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions of murder and the disposal of a body and is suitable for a mature audience only.  In 2010 Auckland woman Carmen Thomas was reported missing by her ex-partner Brad Callaghan. He told police she had failed to pick up their little boy as per their shared custody arrangement and he was worried. Police launched an investigation but there was no sign of Carmen. Three months later Callaghan was arrested and the brutal and macabre details of Carmen's murder and his attempts to avoid being caught came to light. The case is one of New Zealand's most high-profile murder investigations and in this episode of A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask goes back through the timeline of tragedy.  This episode includes short extracts from the television show Forensics - a prime-time documentary ‘crime’ series that aired in New Zealand in 2017. The show was produced by South Pacific Pictures. To read more about Carmen Thomas, click on the links to stories published in the NZ Herald, Weekend Herald and Herald on Sunday below. If there is a case you want to hear about on A Moment In Crime, please email host and producer Anna Leask [email protected]  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cctv-footage-clue-in-carmen-inquiry/E7DU36D5GJHTLU2SJOYLFQR5VE/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/carmen-thomas-murder-brad-callaghan-hid-his-dark-secret-behind-sinister-mask-of-deception/ST6ZX3NHVSMKWNKDJUFWGT5K7E/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/revealed-how-science-caught-carmen-thomas-killer/E5S5N2Y2VS5BHLEH4U3MOYZAGQ/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/parenting-the-parentless-raising-the-children-of-family-violence-murders-in-new-zealand/FEPWLQBXEBDENEK65VJCQODXYA/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police figures show between mid-2012 and 2022, about 280 people were convicted of murder in Aotearoa. Of those, 9.5 per cent of offenders - 26 in total - were women.A further 47 women were convicted of manslaughter, 27 per cent of the 271 total offenders in that category. n the latest episode of A Moment In Crime senior crime and justice reporter Anna Leask looks back at some of New Zealand’s most shocking cases of murder, manslaughter and even some mercy killings carried out by women. This episode of A Moment In Crime references violence towards a child domestic violence - if you need help, or have concerns about someone else, please scroll down for a list of crisis and support agencies. READ MORE: click here for Anna Leask's coverage on women who kill   DO YOU NEED HELP? Child abuse If you are worried about a child or have information about any young person being abused, please contact the police. Information can be passed on to your local police or anonymously through the Crimestoppers reporting line on 0800 555 111. If you’re worried about a child you are urged to contact Oranga Tamariki immediately on 0508 326 459; or email [email protected] If the child or young person is in immediate danger, call police on 111. Family violence If you’re in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.• Run outside and head for where there are other people.• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.• Take the children with you.• Don’t stop to get anything else. If you are being abused, remember it’s not your fault. Violence is never okay. Where to go for help or more information: • Shine, free national helpline available 24/7 - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz• Women’s Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584• It’s Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.