New Plymouth, New Zealand – A drug-seeking mission to an emergency housing motel in New Plymouth took a violent turn when two individuals attacked a resident they accused of being a “child molester.” The victim suffered a knife wound to his throat, along with multiple punches to his face, resulting in bruising and a swollen eye.
Maxien Chand appeared in New Plymouth District Court where she was sentenced for her role in the attack, along with her co-offenders Jay Paul Jorgen Andersen and Veronica Poa. The incident took place at the Braemar Motor Inn in New Plymouth in late October 2022. The motel was being used as emergency housing by the Ministry of Social Development.
According to the Crown’s account, Chand, Andersen, and Poa arrived at the motel, purchased drugs, and engaged in a confrontation with the resident they targeted. Andersen was reported to have put a knife to the man’s neck while Poa punched him in the face, accusing him of being a child sex offender.
The victim’s father, also staying at the motel, intervened when he heard the commotion and attempted to stop the assault. A struggle between him and Andersen ensued, with Poa and the victim joining in, resulting in a chaotic altercation involving the throwing of plastic chairs.
During the chaos, Chand entered the unit, took an unidentified item, and later drove the group away from the scene. The altercation culminated in a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 3 outside New Plymouth, where the suspects were located and arrested.
In court, Chand was sentenced for being an accessory after the fact, while Andersen pleaded guilty to burglary and wounding with intent to injure, and Poa admitted to burglary and being a party to wounding. The incident sheds light on the dangers of drug-seeking behavior and the impact it can have on innocent individuals caught in the crossfire.