R v Dixon

Mr Patrick Dixon has been sentenced in the High Court of New Zealand following a jury trial in Auckland, in which he was found guilty of three offences. These were two offences of using a firearm against a law enforcement officer, one offence of threatening to kill, and one offence of male assaults female. The maximum penalties for these offences were 14 years, seven years, and two years imprisonment, respectively. The court also considered a further charge of assault with a weapon, of which Dixon was acquitted. Dixon's offending involved a lengthy criminal history, with 78 convictions, including for violence and dishonesty offences. He had also failed to take responsibility for his actions, or to show any remorse. The court found that the appropriate starting point for sentencing was 10 years and 6 months' imprisonment, with an uplift of 1 year for the other offences and 1 year for his prior convictions. The court also found that a minimum period of imprisonment was appropriate, and sentenced Dixon to 12 years and 6 months' imprisonment for the two firearms offences, 12 months' imprisonment for the threatening to kill offence, and 6 months' imprisonment for the male assaults female offence, to be served concurrently. The court imposed a minimum term of imprisonment of 6 years.