Mon 22 Aug 2011 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
11.45AM: Cornelius Arie Smith-Voorkamp and Michael Davis are planning on starting a new life together in Invercargill after all charges against them in a post-quake 'looting' case have been dropped. It comes after significant public outcry when the full circumstances of the case were revealed; including the fact Smith-Voorkamp took just two light bulbs and a light fitting due to his compulsion for electrical equipment arising from his Asperger's syndrome. The couple appeared in court this morning, six months after they were arrested in a quake-damaged building, and all charged against them were withdrawn. Christchurch police say they will release a statement on the dropping of the charges later today. However it's believed that after reviewing the file and reading a second psychiatric report and decided Smith-Voorkamp's offending was on the lower end of the scale. When Smith-Voorkamp and Davis were first arrested they were subject to a non-association order, despite the fact Davis is his partner's support person. It ultimately left them living apart. Now the case is over they are planning to move to the deep south and start afresh.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 22nd August 2011 - 11:44am