Sentencing — threatening to kill — threatening public officials — Lawrence v Police [2015] NZHC 1122. The defendant appeared for sentence after being found guilty on three charges of threatening to kill. In the course of pursuing his long-standing grievance against the Accident Compensation Corporation, he had sent emails to the Prime Minister and another cabinet minister in which he threatened to kill them. The defendant stated that he had had no intention to act on his threats, but the Court observed that that was not a defence to the charge. The Court further observed that the nature of the offending posed a threat to democracy, and as such denunciation and deterrence were required. The sentence was 12 months' imprisonment. Judgment Date: 31 March 2022.