A young mother has been sentenced after leaving hospital just days after giving birth to take part in an aggravated robbery in Hamilton, while her newborn remained in intensive care.
According to a report by Belinda Feek of the New Zealand Herald, Brooke Knight, who had given birth only a week earlier, was picked up from Waikato Hospital by her partner, Lance Gray, and became involved in the violent incident at a local home. At the time, her newborn was in the neonatal intensive care unit, and another of her children was also unwell in hospital.
The pair targeted a house known to them through mutual acquaintances on February 3, 2024. According to court details, Gray forced entry into the home using a hammer after initially attempting to gain access through a ranch slider door.
Inside, the situation quickly escalated. Gray confronted the male occupant, claiming he was owed money, while Knight demanded cash from a wheelchair-bound woman in the living room. When the victim resisted, Knight elbowed her in the face before taking cigarettes and $100 in cash, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
As they left, the pair issued further threats, warning they would return to take more property if their demands were not met. Gray also attempted to damage the property further by throwing chairs at the door.
Gray was previously sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in the incident. Knight later appeared in the Hamilton District Court, where she faced sentencing on a charge of aggravated robbery.
According to the New Zealand Herald, during proceedings, her lawyer, Stephen Taylor, argued that she had not been involved in planning the offence and was in a vulnerable state at the time. He told the court she had suffered complications after childbirth and had lost a “significant amount of blood,” while her newborn remained under medical care.
Judge Tini Clark questioned the extent of Knight’s involvement, noting her circumstances at the time. “This is a woman who was still healing from childbirth,” the judge said. “She had a child in NICU [Newborn and Intensive Care Unit]. “Is she still maintaining that she didn’t do anything?”, the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
Taylor responded that Knight accepted her role but stressed that her partner had orchestrated the incident. “Her partner premeditated this, and Ms Knight was picked up from hospital in a vulnerable position and became involved in someone else’s planned offending.”
He added that Gray had initially contacted others before involving Knight, stating, “He was really finding any way for a strength in a numbers plan. “Ms Knight was not involved in any of those texts whatsoever.” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
The court also heard concerns from the prosecution regarding the nature of the crime. Crown prosecutor Matthew Temm described “some concerning elements” in the case, particularly given the vulnerability of the victims, and noted that both offenders had been “pointing the finger at each other”.
Judge Clark said it had been difficult to fully understand Knight’s role and decision-making, adding that her situation had deteriorated significantly since the incident. “Things have gone from bad to worse for her,” the judge said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
She also observed a pattern in Knight’s behaviour, stating, “I’m not sure if that is akin to putting her head in the sand or not,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
Taking into account various factors, including her guilty plea and personal circumstances, the judge sentenced Knight to 22 months in prison, while granting her leave to apply for home detention.
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