Jail for taxi-robbing transgender offender

LYN HUMPHREYS lyn.humphreys@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News |Thursday, 27 March 2008

A transgender offender who robbed a taxi driver by spraying deodorant
in his eyes was yesterday jailed.

However, no mention was made in court whether Justine Morgan-Peka
would serve her sentence in a male prison or a female prison.

The Taranaki Daily News understands she will be accommodated in a male prison.

Her lawyer, Turitea Bolstad, said Morgan-Peka would need to have her
"significant issues" dealt with in prison.

Charged under the name Justin, she admitted the aggravated robbery of
a taxi driver in New Plymouth on January 9 this year and shoplifting
in Pak'N Save on December 3 last year.

Ms Bolstad asked Judge Allan Roberts to take into account her client's
personal circumstances, "because I know where Ms Morgan-Peka is going
to end up".

Judge Roberts acknowledged her personal issues. "They are abundantly
clear from where I sit."

In January, Morgan-Peka and another person had got into a taxi in
Brougham St after drinking. After the friend was dropped off,
Morgan-Peka directed the driver to the carpark at Marfell School.

She gave the impression she was looking for the $11 fare then sprayed
the deodorant into the driver's eyes, disabling him, and stole $220
cash from him.

On January 8, she had put items worth $123.85 in her handbag at Pak'N
Save and tried to get out without paying.

Morgan-Peka had been sentenced to two years prison in the past on a
charge of injuring with intent.

Last year, she was given a final warning for shoplifting.

"I remember that, because I was the judge who sentenced you," Judge
Roberts said.

In total, Morgan-Peka was sentenced to three years' and three months'
jail on the robbery, shoplifting and breaches of release conditions
and community work.

An order was made for reparation of the $220 taken from the taxi
driver. Outstanding fines of $510.46 were remitted.

(c) Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2007. All rights reserved.