New Plymouth, New Zealand – A violent attack took place at the Braemar Motor Inn in October 2022, when a group’s drug-seeking mission escalated into a brutal assault on a resident. The victim endured a knife held to his throat, resulting in a small cut, along with multiple punches to his face, leaving him with bruises and a swollen eye.
Maxien Chand appeared in New Plymouth District Court, facing sentencing for her role in the attack, which also involved Jay Paul Jorgen Andersen and Veronica Poa. The trio had visited the emergency housing motel to purchase drugs before the violent incident unfolded.
Upon their arrival at the Braemar Motor Inn, contracted by the Ministry of Social Development as an emergency housing provider, Chand, Andersen, and Poa engaged in drug transactions before the assault took place. Andersen and Poa confronted a resident, accusing him of being a child sex offender, leading to a physical altercation where the victim sustained injuries.
The victim’s father, also staying at the motel, intervened when he heard the commotion, resulting in further conflict among the parties involved. Chand, Andersen, and Poa eventually fled the scene, with Chand later driving them away before the group encountered a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 3 outside New Plymouth.
Chand was sentenced to time served for being an accessory after the fact, while Andersen faced charges of burglary and wounding with intent to injure, and Poa admitted to burglary and involvement in the assault. The aftermath of the attack shed light on the dangers of drug-related violence in emergency housing settings, prompting further scrutiny on safety measures and support for residents in such facilities.