New Plymouth, New Zealand – A visit by a group to an emergency housing motel took a violent turn when two members of the group attacked a resident they suspected of being a “child molester.” The victim endured having a knife pressed against his throat, resulting in a minor cut, along with multiple punches to his face that left him with bruising and a swollen eye.
Maxien Chand recently appeared in New Plymouth District Court for her role in the assault, with her co-offenders Jay Paul Jorgen Andersen and Veronica Poa having already admitted to their involvement. The incident occurred at the Braemar Motor Inn in New Plymouth in late October 2022, where the trio had visited to purchase drugs.
According to court documents, the group arrived at the motel, which was being used as emergency housing by the Ministry of Social Development, late at night. After purchasing drugs from two motel units, Chand returned to their vehicle while Andersen and Poa engaged with a resident outside before reuniting with Chand.
Upon returning to the motel units, Andersen and Poa accused a resident of being a child sex offender, leading to a violent altercation where the resident was physically attacked. The victim’s father, also staying at the motel, intervened when he heard the commotion, resulting in a chaotic scene involving physical altercations and the throwing of chairs.
During the assault, Chand entered the unit and took an item before urging Andersen and Poa to leave with her. The group fled the scene in a vehicle, which later crashed on State Highway 3. While Chand and Poa were found nearby, Andersen was located in Taumarunui two months later and apprehended.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Chand was sentenced for being an accessory after the fact, while Andersen faced charges of burglary and wounding with intent to injure, and Poa for burglary and being a party to the wounding. The incident sheds light on the dangers and consequences of drug-related activities within emergency housing facilities.