R v Jefferies-Smith

[2025] NZHC 1353

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND TAURANGA REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA TAURANGA MOANA ROHE

CRI-2018-070-000050

[2025] NZHC 1353

THE KING

v

COLIN RICHARD JEFFERIES-SMITH

Hearing:

On the papers

Counsel:

A J Pollett for Crown

M A Edgar for Mr Jefferies-Smith

Judgment:

27 May 2025

JUDGMENT OF HARVEY J

[Application to Access Court Documents]

This judgment is delivered by me on 27 May 2025.

………………………………

Deputy Registrar

Solicitors:

Crown Solicitors, Tauranga

Counsel:
Mark Edgar, Barrister, Auckland

R v JEFFERIES-SMITH [2025] NZHC 1353 [27 May 2025]

[1]    By an application dated 16 April 2025, the Applicant seeks access to Court documents, specifically:

Any name suppression orders made for me [the Applicant] dates of name suppression and closed court room orders. And any evidence of the court room doors forgetting to be locked when I was in the dock and Mongrel Mob members walked in and seen me (Hon Justice Woolford) ordered the court room to be cleared & doors to be locked.

[2]The reasons provided by the Applicant:

Corrections [breached] name suppression [the] day before I gave evidence, and court room’s doors were left open and Mongrel Mob members walked in and seen me in the dock. I will not disclose any information or documents to the public or media.

[3]    The application is unopposed on the basis that the documents provided are orders for name suppression and relevant pages of the notes of evidence dealing with the order to close the courtroom and the interruption referred to by the Applicant.

[4] The application as it relates only to the Applicant is granted in relation to the documents above at [3]. To avoid doubt, reference to any other witness or witnesses must be properly redacted given that the suppression orders for them remain in place.

Harvey J