Tuesday 20 October 2020
Colouring queen
Off the mark
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Nurse escapes prison sentence Paula Hulburt Editor
paula@marlboroughmedia.co.nz
A nurse convicted of stealing two credit cards from patients has been sentenced to six months home detention. Marvel Clavecilla, 46, was yesterday sentenced at Blenheim District Court to 180 days home detention, 180 days of curfew and 60 hours of community service. The judge said it was the maximum sentence he could impose without sending Clavecilla to prison. Clavecilla stole two credit cards, one from 90-year-old, Doris Follows, after she died on March 29 and the other from an 89-year-old Blenheim woman admitted to Wairau Hospital for three nights in May this year. He used both cards to buy take away meals, fuel and groceries. The woman’s son, Mike O’Donnell, had met with Clavecilla at a restorative justice meeting last month on behalf of
his mother. “I’ve been hugely impressed by the courage and graciousness shown by my mum throughout this terrible ordeal,” he
“It was a dreadful situation and a huge violation of trust.” says. O’Donnell was in court yesterday to see the former Wairau Hospital nurse sentenced. “It was a dreadful situation and a huge violation of trust. What Marvel did accelerated mum going into full time care, but I think it’s a just decision and one which will be enabling for her to move forward.” In a letter to the court, the woman said she believed Clavecilla was genuinely sorry for what he had done.
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
She did not want to see his family suffer because of his actions she wrote. “I’ve been here [in the rest home] two weeks now, and my move here was strongly influenced by the stress and fear that your offending had on my life. “I was devastated to learn what happened to me at hospital – to get home and read the credit card statement was unbelievable. I’d always felt safe here in Blenheim where I live. Your actions changed that. “I was rushed into X-ray after midnight urgently, at that time I spoke to my nurse and said I want to take my handbag with me please, she said to me not to worry … She was wrong. “I am a very caring person and have helped many people in my years gone by ... especially here in Blenheim over the last 18 years where I have worked with members of the
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St Luke’s celebration
Friends and parishioners, including Rowena Allan, of St Luke’s Anglican Community Church in Spring Creek celebrated a milestone birthday on Saturday as the church turned 130 years old. Photo: Malinda Boniface.
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