Plea for justice after death
By BLAIR ENSOR and MAIKE van der HEIDE - The Marlborough Express
WE WANT JUSTICE: Close friends and family of Matt Heagney, who was fatally injured in or outside Shapeshifters bar, gathered outside the bar this morning in a show of support for the Heagney family and as a message they want someone to be held accountable for his death. From left are: Aidan MacDonald, Josh Wilkinson, James Moore, Rachel Crosbie, Alex Thomson, Matt's brother Ryan Heagney, Blair Marshall, Nick Collett, Matt's girlfriend, Ema Arnold, Tony Lloyd, Celia Melville, Scott McDermid, Georgina Sutherland, Tom Cretney, Hayley Ryan, Jimmy Crockett, Nicky Gibbons, Aaron Smith and Aoife O'Shaughnessy.
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Friends and family of Blenheim man Matt Heagney, who was fatally injured in or outside Shapeshifters bar, have made an emotive plea for justice to be served.
On Thursday about 20 of his friends gathered outside the bar in a show of support for the Heagney family and as a message they want someone to be held accountable for his death.
A close friend of Mr Heagney, Scott McDermid, said he was scared that someone would "get a slap on the wrist for it and that would be it".
In 2006, two Blenheim bouncers charged with manslaughter after the death of a man outside the former Copper Bock bar were acquitted by a jury.
In the same year, a Napier bouncer was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in relation to a man who died after being punched and kicked outside a nightclub in 2005.
"No-one has got any faith that the appropriate justice is going to come about. People are scared it's going to get swept under the mat," Mr McDermid said.
On Thursday Blenheim police senior sergeant Ciaran Sloan said the investigation was progressing and the matter was now in the police Christchurch legal department for opinion.
The call comes as Shapeshifters co-owner Julian Campbell announced plans to oust his business partner Kevin King in the wake of the late night incident outside the bar on August 23.
It is understood Mr Heagney was leaving the bar when he was injured. He died a short time later in Wairau Hospital.
Mr Campbell said the bar would not be closed for financial reasons, although the bar's takings had halved since Mr Heagney's death and staff had been verbally threatened.
He told The Marlborough Express that Mr King has agreed to a draft agreement to hand over sole ownership to him at the cost of about $130,000.
Mr Campbell said he had earlier tried to buy Mr King's shares but Mr King refused. Both own equal shares in the business.
It is understood Mr King is under investigation in connection with the incident.
Mr McDermid said in his opinion Mr King's attitude since the incident appeared to be "a little too light-hearted".
"Matt's six feet under ground and there's a part owner (Kevin King) in the bar acting as if nothing is happening."
Mr Heagney's girlfriend of almost 2 1/2 years, Ema Arnold said it was disrespectful of the owners to keep the bar open. She said she did not understand how bar staff could still work there after Mr Heagney's incident.
"It's a hard reminder and I feel like it's disrespectful as well."
Miss Arnold and her friends now avoided the bar: "I don't think I will ever go up there again."
"Every single day it's so hard with Matt not here, it's so quiet ... we had plans and everything and now it's all gone."
Miss Arnold said she was upstairs at the bar when she received a text message from Mr Heagney, who was downstairs, to say he was leaving. She did not know what happened next until she got home and he was not there.
Mr Heagney's father, Pat, said he wanted the bar closed, claiming that it was a known trouble spot before his son's death. "My son was only in the bar for seven minutes, he was walking out, he wasn't causing one iota of problem."
"He was just walking out, what right have they got to do that to him?
"The guy [Kevin King] is still working there, it just seems crazy legislation. Ideally you should be standing a person down that's under investigation, shouldn't you?"
Mr Campbell described Mr King as a "shadow" hanging over the bar, which would be lifted if ties were severed.
"I'm not going to work with him.
"He's legally entitled to go where he likes, when he likes because he is still a 50 per cent owner and there is nothing we can do to stop this until it changes."
Mr Campbell planned to rebrand Shapeshifters when funds allowed.
He said staff had received threats from the public, "usually from disaffected people who have been asked to leave" and comments were written on the blackboard outside the bar.
Threats had subsided since the incident, but a malicious message was left on Mr Campbell's answer machine early on Monday morning, which had been referred to police.
Meanwhile, Mr Heagney and his wife, Pam, visited Sensing Murder psychic Sue Nicholson in Wellington, who Mr Heagney said gave an accurate, very detailed account of what happened to Matt.
The psychic was in contact with Matt, he said. "He said no-one will listen to me because I'm talking from my grave and I didn't do anything wrong. No one's going to listen to me."
The meeting had been comforting for the family, Mr Heagney said.
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I am a bouncer persoanly and have been hit around however as stated by others bouncers definately need to have soome type of training and a hek load more then what they do now. Bouncers have no right to lay a hand on anyone! I work at a uni pub, and any bouncer that hits any person while working is fired right there and then! why is this guy stil working? Some ones head needs to role, a nice kind and adventurous guys life has been taken and nothing has been done about it! pathetic realy! New laws, better standards for bouncers not only door staff, something needs to be done before it happens again! and as for the psychic visit i definately believe and this information needs to be used aswel!
Theres obviously going to be lots of witnesses who have different stories due to alcohol being a factor. I can't imagine that being an easy job for the police. If anyone was to be charged you would need a strong case behind it to go ahead in a court of law. If a charge was laid early on, without the facts straight it doesn't really make sense as it could be thrown out at the first deposotion hearing. Things take time whether people like it or not.
I lived with matt for the past 3 years and have known him since primary school.
He was not a violent person and had not had heaps to drink that night. Matt NEVER would have instigated anything, everyone who knows him knows this and that is why this is so hard for us. We are not bitter just because we lost a mate, but the way it happened and how long it is taking to get some answers/closure is starting to get to everyone.
Too many laws in this country are reactive and not proactive.
How many more good honest people have to be lost because our justice system is flawed and far too weak?
love u heags
Why create a whole infrastructure on licensing bouncers??? besides, what are you going to license them as, lethal weapons??? Bouncer, doorman, security, crowd controller, whatever you call them they are subject to the law (now) just like everyone else. If these individuals are directly responsible for the death (or harm) of a human being they should be prosecuted by the laws in place. If the prosecution fails, then obviously the truth of what really happened was discovered and justice was served.
Granted there are times when things get messy and things are not so clear cut as this story sings out for. Patrons can be abusive and violent when drunk and take no responsibility for their actions. The Police rarely go into the bars unless in large numbers and the bouncers have to make the place safe for the patrons, and cater to those causing problems. They are also there to protect property and the owner’s investment. When this works, people feel safe in a crowded bar with lots of drunk people however, when it doesn’t work then bouncers are scene as goons.
The story unfortunately doesn't say what actually happened only the fact a young man is dead. If the case was simple and clear cut the police would have laid charges within a few days after the man's death. Obviously there is much more going on that isn't being reported. Don’t get me going on the psychic dribble and can’t see how that nonsense was even reported.
As for the owners of the bar, they have to make a living. Until people are charged with a crime these people have to right to make a legal living. Don't like the bar then don't go and boycott it. It does appear that one of the owner is trying to do what is best.
Not only has it been 2 months of no answers for family and friends of this man but it has been 2 months of having to second guess everyone walking past them wondering if they had any involvement. In a small province like Blenheim tragic things like these tends to affect the WHOLE community not just those directly involved, the whole things is a terrible thing to happen, but something just as unfortunate that has come from this is that walking around this small town there is a someone responsible for this that family and friends of Matt Heagney have the possibility of seeing walking around as if nothing happened. Fairness is obviously not a factor in this otherwise the whole thing would not have happened, but lets make justice take away a TINY amount of pain for the community
This might be a little insensitive but oh well...
"The psychic was in contact with Matt, he said. "He said no-one will listen to me because I'm talking from my grave and I didn't do anything wrong. No one's going to listen to me.""
Is this a Tui add? I mean really, anyone who is 'dead' could say that!!! those so called psychic's really need to stop praying on greiving people and taking there money, they make me so sick! there such fakes!!!
Good bouncers diffuse trouble.
Bad bouncers hit people.
It really is that simple. Police should be take the stance that they look to prosecute every case of a bouncer assaulting a punter with the understanding that, in a very few cases, the bouncer's actions are justified.
But a register is required and any bouncer who is investigated too regularly should have their license revoked. And certainly a bouncer who kills someone should be prosecuted and never be allowed to work in the industry again.
Information on bars with high rates of bouncer altercations should be thoroughly gazetted and the bars required to display this information prominently.
This industry clearly needs better checks and balances and I hope that is Matt Heagney's legacy. He did not deserve this.
"Bouncers" should really be required by law to be licensed.
Part of that license should include courses on First Aid, negotiation, and non-violent strategies for dealing with intoxicated people. These licenses should be administered by the Police who would have the final say on who is fit to hold one.
They should have to be licensed. They should not be allowed to work if they have a criminal conviction for violence. This is a job that defininatly attracts people who want and excuss to brawl.
As for the justice system, which is really a self serving country club for the legal profession and nothing more, don't hold your breath. Come on the Right Honorable Mr Simon Powell MP, you were voted in to sort this out, remember less than 2 years until the next general election.
I would hate to see this country go the way of other parts of the world where people are armed to the teeth and revenge and retribution is the norm for those who have lost love ones, but in the absence of effective justice this is what will eventually happen.
All bouncers and security staff should have adequate training and be licenced. Incidents where people die in these circumstances may be rare, but as a patron of bars and clubs all around New Zealand I have seen and met some very sadistic bouncers. Many use their position as an excuse to power trip and justify the use of excessive force, which is not acceptable. It will only be a matter of time before another patron dies or is critically injured by bouncers who are there primarily to ensure the wellbeing of their patrons. Good luck with getting a prosecution against the sadistic brute that killed Matt Heagney.