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Electrician given home detention, ordered to pay $150k after builder fatally shocked

Published

3 years ago

February 21, 2024

The partner of a builder killed by an electric shock from an unearthed kitchen appliance in Nelson has spoken of the devastation of losing her soulmate to an electrician’s incompetence.

Stephen Graeme Burton, 60, was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months home detention and ordered to pay $150,000 to the family of builder Craig Johnston.

The 53-year-old died from a cardiac arrhythmia after he was electrocuted by an incorrectly wired rangehood at a Nelson property in March 2020.

A month earlier, Burton had installed a new rangehood and fan in the kitchen of the same home. He was found, at a judge-alone trial at the Nelson District Court in November, to have failed to properly test the socket outlet – which would have revealed it was live and not properly earthed.

The charge of carrying out electrical work in a manner that was dangerous to life was brought by WorkSafe under the Electricity Act.

At the trial, Burton claimed someone else had changed the wiring, and that he had tested his work as required – claims Judge David Ruth called untenable.

Johnston, who owned and operated a handyman business under the Hire-a-Hubby franchise, had been employed to build a casing around a rangehood in the Nelson home.

The property owner returned home to find Johnston unresponsive on the floor. One of his shoes had come off, both his hands were clenched and the rangehood was partially hanging from the ceiling. An ambulance was called, but Johnston was pronounced dead at the scene.

His partner of 35 years, Ruth McAlpine, said Johnston was the cornerstone of their family – a funny, passionate, hard-working, well-loved, and capable man. Together with son Jamie, the family had emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland in 2009.

She told the court Burton was responsible for her partner’s death – and that his failure to check the socket wiring was no accident.

“He had a choice to do his job properly. There are rules and regulations within the law that have to be followed because everyone knows the dangers of electricity, but Burton chose not to bother with this … resulting in killing Craig.”

She said it had been four years of hell and a fight for survival without Johnston, who had been the main provider for their family. After his death, she had to take control of the business and sell both it and the house they had recently bought and planned to renovate.

“I feel we are the ones being punished for something that never should have happened.

“Sometimes on a cold winter’s day, with grey skies like Scotland, I feel lost and all I want to hear is his laugh. I would give anything in the world to hear his laugh again.”

She said it had been soul-destroying to see Burton in his work van driving around Nelson over the past few years, carrying on with his life.

McAlpine had declined to meet Burton at a restorative justice meeting, as there was “nothing he could possibly say that would make me hate him less”.

Jamie Johnston had been completing an electrical apprenticeship at the time of his father’s death, but said he had since given it up.

“Why on earth would I want to carry on in this career with what happened to my father?

“I see only a coward with the audacity to call himself a professional deny his own wrongdoings … I’m disgusted by the thought that this man could still be performing any kind of electrical work.”

Acting for WorkSafe, prosecutor Dennis Dow said Burton had installed a socket outlet in an electrically unsafe manner, failed to undertake mandatory testing and refused to acknowledge any responsibility for his failings – even in the face of unrefuted expert evidence.

“They were mistakes that were easily avoidable, they were mistakes that should not have happened.”

Defence lawyer Michael Vesty said the past four years had also been traumatic for Burton’s family. He was a man of good character who had no disciplinary record prior to March 2020, which was likely to see him removed from the Electrical Workers Registration Board.

“There has been a fall from grace for Mr Burton and that will continue … he will lose his career, lose his business and lose any realistic ability to draw an income.”

In sentencing, Judge David Ruth said Burton’s initial failure to remove a switch plate to check the wiring had been pivotal as it would have revealed that the earth wire was not correctly connected and was operating as a live wire.

“Had you taken that preliminary, very obvious and simple step, which probably required the removal of four or five screws, all of this might well have been avoided.

“You seem to me to have shown an indifference to your responsibilities under the Act.”

Judge Ruth set a starting point for the sentence of 20 months in prison, with a 20 percent discount for previous good character, leading to a final sentence of eight months home detention.

Burton was ordered to make an immediate payment of $50,000, with the remaining $100,000 to be paid after the sale of other assets.

Judge Ruth said it was important to send a message to others prepared to cut corners that the court would act decisively against such practices.

rnz

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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