Interesting names for Christchurch residents

The Herald reports that Judge Michael Crosbie has fired a warning shot across the bow of a number of people arrested in Christchurch at the weekend.

Anyone caught looting in the wake of Christchurch's devastating earthquake on Saturday would be harshly treated by the courts, a judge warned today.

"The court will be taking a close look at people who offended during this disaster," Judge Michael Crosbie said.

They would be presented to the courts as being people who were capable of anything.

He made his comment in Christchurch District Court while dealing with series of remands of people alleged to have taken advantage of the disaster.

Justice Crosbie slapped remands in custody or strict curfews on those charged in cases where police alleged the offending was earthquake related.

Because we're public-spirited, and because we have extensive family connections in the Garden City, we're publishing the list that follows. We reckon that the good folk of Christchurch need to know that there is an element in the city which has no regard for human suffering and for common decency. Here goes:

• Jack Duckmanton (20) - unemployed
• Shannon William Johnson (19) - mechanic
• Daniel Ezekiel Peneha (28) - unemployed
• Deon Mathew Rich (17) - unemployed
• Kimiona Ngatamariki (21) - chef

Now of course all these lovely blokes are currently entitled to be presumed as innocent, but all have been charged with offences relating to residential and domestic properties which had either been damaged or were abandoned. In other words, it is alleged that they are looters.

And we applaud Judge Michael Crosbie for not surpressing the names of these alleged offenders. The Canterbury public needs to know that there are scumbags in their midst.