William Dwane Bell

Case identification

William Dwane Bell (born 1978) was a convicted murderer in New Zealand.

STATUS

Bell was sentenced to life in prison with a 30 year non-parole period in February 2003. His initial minimum non-parole period of 33 years was reduced by three years on appeal. The sentence had been described as the longest non-parole sentence ever passed in New Zealand.

Timeline

• 8 December 2001 — Bell entered the Panmure RSA clubrooms and committed killings during an attempted robbery.
• 13 February 2003 — Bell received a life sentence with a 30 year non-parole period.
• 10 December 2007 — Bell was admitted to Auckland Hospital suffering severe head injuries.
• 14 July 2009 — Dean Joseph Shepherd pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after attacking Bell at Auckland Prison.
• 11 September — Bell was to be sentenced in relation to Shepherd’s plea (context given as Shepherd’s sentence date).
• On 10 December 2007 — Bell was admitted to Auckland Hospital after being attacked in prison.
• 2006 — Dean Joseph Shepherd was jailed for the murder of Darunee Aphiromlerk.

Background

Bell entered the Panmure RSA clubrooms in the early hours of 8 December 2001. He had been fired from a job as a bartender three months earlier.

The offence

During the robbery at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA, Bell killed William Absolum, 63, Mary Hobson, 44, and Wayne Johnson, 56. He also seriously injured another club employee during the events.

Bell and his co-offender, Darnell Tupe, had gone to the club. Tupe remained outside while Bell went into the club and committed the murders. The attempted robbery related to cash takings from the previous evening.

Bell persuaded Couch, 37, to open the door before beating her almost to death. The Crown prosecutor said Bell showed systematic execution-style killings and used particular cruelty, with cold-blooded violence that was gratuitous and unnecessary. The court described Bell as showing callous indifference and absolutely no remorse.

A Crown prosecutor statement in court described Bell’s prior drug use. Crown prosecutor Simon Moore said Bell indicated that he had preferred P—“pure methamphetamine”—and that he was smoking very heavily in the weeks prior to committing the offences:

"He told me he was smoking several bongs of P every day," said Moore.

The Crown prosecutor said Bell had a long criminal record and was likely to offend again. Moore told the court that Bell had accumulated a record of 102 offences by the time he stood trial for the multiple murders at the age of 24. Moore said there were no mitigating features for Bell:

"There are no mitigating features for Mr Bell," said Moore.

Investigation and arrest

The material did not set out investigative steps or an arrest.

Co-offender (Darnell Tupe)

Darnell Tupe, 24, was Bell’s co-offender. Tupe was found guilty of three counts of manslaughter and one of aggravated robbery. Tupe was found not guilty of attempted murder. Tupe was sentenced to 12 years with a minimum non-parole period of seven years.

Injury and prison assault (10 December 2007)

On 10 December 2007, Bell was admitted to Auckland Hospital for severe head injuries. The injuries were initially described as life-threatening and were later described as moderate to superficial.

Fellow murderer Dean Joseph Shepherd admitted assaulting Bell.

Trial and plea of Dean Joseph Shepherd

On 14 July 2009, Dean Joseph Shepherd pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in the Auckland District Court. Shepherd was due to stand trial on the charge. Shepherd was serving a life sentence for murder.

The attack happened on 10 December 2007 at Auckland Prison’s maximum security Delta Block, while Bell was using a pay phone in a telephone room. Shepherd walked into the telephone room about 2.45pm carrying a red plastic bucket, put it on a table, and began his cleaning duties. The court documents stated that Shepherd began pacing around in and out of the room as he:

"mentally prepared himself for the attack". When Shepherd returned to the room, he reached into the bucket and pulled out two sharp metal instruments made from the workings of a lever arch folder. The instruments were described as sharpened at one end, with the other end wrapped in white bandages to form a handle.

Shepherd walked up to Bell and, after pausing for a moment, lunged and stabbed Bell in the left eye with one of the implements. The documents stated that the impact forced Bell off the chair and down onto the floor. The documents described Shepherd jumping on top of Bell:

"in a frenzied rage" Shepherd hit Bell on the back of the head with the metal instruments and his fists as he attempted to get to Bell’s eyes. Bell was described as screaming for help while he protected his face.

Prison guards were forcedly described as pulling Shepherd away to stop the attack.

Bell was treated in Auckland Hospital for a puncture wound penetrating through his left eyelid resulting in internal bleeding on his head, a fractured eye socket, and numerous contusions to his scalp and face.

When police asked Shepherd for an explanation of why he did it, he declined to answer.

Prosecutors indicated they would seek a sentence of preventive detention for Shepherd. Shepherd’s lawyer, Shane Cassidy, argued that because Shepherd was already serving a life sentence, preventive detention would make the option:

"relatively defunct" There was to be legal argument about whether preventive detention applied to a life prisoner, with sentencing described as scheduled for September 11.

Sentencing (February 2003)

Bell was initially jailed for a minimum non-parole period of 33 years. On appeal, that minimum was reduced by three years, resulting in a 30 year non-parole period. The sentence was described as the longest non-parole sentence ever passed in New Zealand.

Justice Judith Potter told the High Court in Auckland that Bell showed a callous indifference for what he had done and absolutely no remorse. Potter described Bell as a cold-blooded and ruthless killer, and said the families of the victims would never overcome the trauma of the killings:

"His own explanation in evidence was that it was only the money that counted. It perhaps best summarises his attitude to his victims," Potter said.

Justice Minister Phil Goff welcomed Bell’s 33 year sentence and said it showed the courts were carrying out the wishes of parliament following new sentencing laws.

National’s justice spokesman Tony Ryall wanted answers about how probation officers and police dealt with Bell, who was on parole before the killings.

United Future spokesman Marc Alexander said sentences were starting to match up to the enormity of the crime and that life should still mean life, stating Bell should be left to die in prison.

Victims

• William Absolum, 63 — killed during the robbery at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA.
• Mary Hobson, 44 — killed during the robbery at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA.
• Wayne Johnson, 56 — killed during the robbery at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA.
• Susan Couch, 37 — attempted to be killed; Bell beat her almost to death; her injury was described as damage that would last for the rest of her life.
• An additional club employee was seriously injured during the events.

Other relevant legal references

The material mentioned that Dean Joseph Shepherd was jailed in 2006 for the murder of Darunee Aphiromlerk. It stated that, after arguing with Ms Aphiromlerk about money, he tied her up in a duvet and threw her into the Waikato River.

A quote from Johnson’s brother advocated an alternative sentence:

"He should be shot and thrown on the tip," Earl Johnson said.

Other details

Bell was associated with alcohol and an all-night drink and drugs spree prior to the offences. The material stated he was convicted of the murder of Wayne Johnson, Mary Hobson, and Bill Absolum and the attempted murder of Susan Couch after going on an all-night drink and drugs spree. It also stated that dozens of RSA members were at the High Court in Auckland to see Bell receive the sentence that was five years longer than any other non-parole period handed down in a New Zealand court. The material stated Bell would be at least 58 years old before he would have the opportunity to be free again.

Couch issued a statement saying she hoped the sentences help deter others who might have evil intentions, while she said it was a “hollow sort of victory” and that the damage had been done and could never be undone.