**** CKPT FOR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2 *******
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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For the first time Liam Ashley's family have heard details of the prolonged and brutal attack that claimed their son's life in the back of a prison van. The evidence was presented in a packed court today when the 25 year old killer pleaded guilty to Liam's murder. The man was flanked by four security guards. He has name suppression because he's facing other matters before the courts. Conan Young has been at the Auckland District Court. PKG
Joining us now is the lawyer for the man who murdered Liam Ashley, Tony Bouchier. LIVE
Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase says he doesn't believe there will be a military coup despite a new warning of possible "bloodshed" by the country's renegade military commander. The police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, says the police are also gathering evidence to charge Commodore Frank Bainimarama with treason. The commodore has been overseas, reportedly inspecting Fijian peacekeeping deployments. Mr Hughes says that while arresting him will be risky, the police don't fear a major backlash from the military. CUT We'll be speaking to Mr Qarase shortly, but first here's the latest from Fiji Times reporter Sophie Foster. PREREC Fiji's Prime MInister Laisenia Qarase remains confident there will be no coup. PREREC
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH SEAN KENNEDY
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A temporary constable in Tauranga used a firehose to subdue a prisoner who had damaged police property and threatened a civilian officer. The incident happened in September last year and has been declared an acceptable use of force by police national headquaters. Police say the temporary constables have used pepper spray to subdue prisoners at least four times in the past year in the Wellington area. The officers wear police uniforms, but have no powers of arrest, and are used to guard crime scenes, and provide security in court. Superintendent Tony McLeod - the police national manager of operations joins us now. LIVE
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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Workers at one of the Wellington region's longest standing manufacturing plants are taking stock of the surprise announcement their factory is going to close. About 150 staff at Colgate-Palmolive in Petone, were told that told yesterday that after fifty years of production, operations will cease next year.
Colgate-Palmolive is the latest in a string of factory closures in the area after businesses such as Exide Technologies and South Pacific Tyres shut their doors earlier this year. Now locals are wondering if it's the end of manufacturing in Wellington altogether. Natalie Mankelow went to the plant. PKG
It's not a case of 'would you like fries with that?', but more like 'would you like a condom with that?'...A new advertising campaign by the pizza franchise Hell Pizza delivers condoms to around 100-thousand letterboxes, advertising their lust, or meatlovers pizza. The promotion has outraged various family advocacy groups, who say the company is being inappropriate, offensive and also unsafe. Hell Pizza's director is Warren Powell. I spoke to both him and Brendon Malone from Family Life International who says there's a danger the condoms won't work properly..PREREC
Oil companies are battling it out at the pumps, with all four major companies dropping their fuel prices by five cents today. Petrol at BP, Mobil, Caltex and Shell is now selling at just under a-dollar-thirty-nine for a litre of 91 Octane, and 95 Octane is just under a-dollar-forty-four a litre. The price of diesel has also dropped five cents, to just under ninety-nine cents a litre. Shell led the price change, initially lowering its prices by four cents, and then dropping again to match BP, who undercut them by a cent. Joining us now is the AA's motoring affairs manager, Mike Noon...LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS WITH ERU REREKURA
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Today in the Auckland District Court, Liam Ashley's killer admitted a charge of murder after strangling the 16-year-old to death in the back of a prison van.
His name is suppressed as he is currently before the High Court on another matter. Liam's killer has previously appeared in court wearing a t-shirt with the words 'Keep your eye on the rising star of crime' and on the back 'Serial killers work alone' but his lawyer Tony Bouchier, says the t-shirt had been given to his client by a prison officer. Joining us now is the Department of Corrections spokesperson, Brian McMurray. CUT
Hamilton Police have seized seven stun guns, as well as huge haul of cash and drugs. The find came after raiding houses and cars in Hamilton and Tauranga. The police say they're regularly coming across such weapons, despite the stun-guns being restricted. The police spokesperson is Detective Sergeant Carl Thornton. PREREC And eleven people are due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on weapons charges later this week in relation to the event.
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