G pleaded guilty to the sexual violations but chose to go to trial on the rape charge. He was found guilty and was sentenced under the Sentencing Act in the normal way for adult offenders. Had he been charged before his 19th birthday, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (OTA) and not the Sentencing Act would have applied. G’s lawyers argued that had the OTA been applied, a prison sentence would have been applied only as a last resort. “That objective is best addressed by the District Court on the basis of current and comprehensive information.”The Supreme Court sent the case back to the District Court for resentencing.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 24, 2026 06:37 UTC