Face of the Day

Former TVNZ host, anti-vaccination campaigner and failed political candidate Liz Gunn has been unsuccessful in her bid to avoid a conviction for assault.

Gunn, aka Elizabeth Jane Cooney, appeared before Judge Janey Forrest in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

Her lawyer, Matthew Hague, sought a discharge without conviction after she was found guilty of assaulting an airport worker at a judge-alone trial in May.

Judge Forrest convicted and discharged Gunn at her sentencing, saying the assault was low level but the 64-year-old had shown no remorse. The consequences of a conviction were not out of proportion with the gravity of her offending, the judge concluded.

Hague asked for his client to be given leave to sit beside him on the bench in court usually reserved for the defence counsel.

Judge Forrest declined, saying Gunn’s case was one of several in a sentencing list alongside other defendants who were appearing from custody.

She should be in the dock like everyone else appearing for sentencing before her that day, Judge Forrest said.

There were far fewer supporters present in court today than the dozens who turned up to each day of her trial. Present in the public gallery were her former co-accused Jonathan Clark and four other loyal supporters.

NZ Herald