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Offender Databases Andrew Myhill

Andrew John Myhill

Alias

.

Offences

Home invasion and aggravated robbery of a Naenae pensioner in November 1999

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

Myer Harrington
Shane Sweeney

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1981

Current Location

unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to seven years in January 2000

Background
From the Dominion 18th March 2000
A 17-YEAR-OLD home invader who slashed Naenae pensioner Barry Cholmondeley with a machete then doused him with boiling broth as he lay unconscious on his kitchen floor was jailed yesterday for eight years. Myer Hepi Harrington, unemployed of Naenae, Lower Hutt, had admitted charges of aggravated wounding and aggravated burglary relating to the violent attack by three drunk males on November 6, which horrified New Zealand.

Judge Anne Gaskell said the attack was "an appalling, callous and savage attack on a defenceless and elderly man in his own home". The three males, Harrington armed with a machete-style knife, had walked into Mr Cholmondeley's home, confronted him and demanded cash, Judge Gaskell said. Harrington, who took the leading role in the attack, had then hit Mr Cholmondeley across the back of the head with the machete and again as he lay on the ground. Mr Cholmondeley, 70, begged his assailants to stop the beating, but Harrington continued kicking, punching and stamping on his victim.

Harrington had tipped boiling broth over Mr Cholmondeley's head, face and body, Judge Gaskell said. Mr Cholmondeley suffered first and second-degree burns on 19 per cent of his body, requiring skin grafts on 9 per cent of his body. He had been told he would need further surgery, she said. Judge Gaskell told Harrington that because of what he had done, Mr Cholmondeley had concerns for his safety despite his determination to continue living alone.

Defence lawyer Brian Yeoman said Harrington had cringed when shown photos of Mr Cholmondeley after the attack and regretted what he had done. Mr Yeoman, accepting that a prison term was inevitable, said Harrington was drunk during the attack and had planned a robbery with a view to getting more alcohol. He was a first offender who had admitted his part in the crime. Judge Gaskell said the eight-year prison term reflected public outrage. Two others involved in the home invasion, Andrew John Myhill, 18, and Shane Patrick Sweeney, 26, have each been jailed for seven years.

From the Evening Post 15th November 1999
One of the trio arrested after the home invasion of Naenae resident Barry Cholmondely pleaded guilty today. Shane Patrick Sweeney, 26, unemployed, of Naenae, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and burglary. A third charge of aggravated wounding was withdrawn. The court was told that on the night of November 6 Sweeney and co- accused Myer Hepi Harrington, 17, and another man, whose name has been suppressed, had initially planned to rob a liquor store in Treadwell St.

They also discussed robbing a fish and chip shop but Sweeney didn't agree. The three then decided to rob Mr Cholmondely who had had an altercation with Sweeney's associates several days earlier. They went to Mr Cholmondely's address with a machete. The door was ajar and the other two accused went in. When Mr Cholmondely told them to leave he was hit on the head with the machete. He was also punched about the head and stomped on.

Sweeney waited outside and while the other two dealt with Mr Cholmondely in the kitchen, he searched the house looking for cash and items of value. He stole a walkman worth$200. They then ran off. The machete was hidden and one of the accused cleaned blood from his shoes and changed his clothes. The three were found by police a short time later after they were alerted by a neighbour of Mr Cholmondely.

Mr Cholmondely, a well-known Naenae identity, suffered two large lacerations to his head and back and was scolded with hot liquid, suffering first and second-degree burns to his body and head. Sweeney was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 3. Harrington was also due to appear in court today. A third man, aged 18, is due to appear in court next week.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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