A blundering armed burglar has been locked up for more than three years for an "unsophisticated" break-in at the wrong house which left an occupant fearing he would be killed. His counsel, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, though, told the Dunedin District Court it was a case of mistaken identity. Ms Ablett-Kerr highlighted Nelson’s "troubled background" and the psychiatric issues that had plagued him for some time. Judge Smith accepted this was likely to have been a factor at the time of the aggravated burglary. Ms Ablett-Kerr stressed Nelson’s remorse was genuine — he was truly horrified at the ordeal to which he subjected his victims.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 02, 2020 16:34 UTC