Coroner Bruce Hesketh

The quantum career leap from beat cop to  Coroner’s Court judge

He’s worn a police officer’s helmet, a barrister’s wig and gown and his recent appointment as Bay of Plenty-Waikato coroner has elevated him to the ranks of the judiciary. He’s a judge of the Coroner’s court but rather than being referred to by the judge honorific his title’s Coroner and the robe he wears is blue not the black of other courtrooms.

That’s quite some quantum leap for a Taihape kid who considered himself “very average” at school.   

“I was one of those who didn’t recognise my full potential until I grew up in my 20s,” is his candid opinion on his life’s gear shifts.

He acknowledges he was much more sports orientated than academically inclined during his earlier years “but the idea of becoming a policeman had always been at the back of my mind.”

By the time he was 21 and eligible to enter police college his desire to become a keeper of law and order had filtered to the surface.

“I’d always felt this sense of right and wrong, orderly conduct and rules that give us a society where we can live fairly and orderly.”

If that sounds a tad pious forget it. This is a man who’s as down to earth as you’re likely to get. Remember, he’s been a street cop and a legal eagle specialising in gritty high end crime.

And don’t go trying to mess with Bruce Hesketh. He has a second degree black belt in  Taekwando, representing his country at the sport’s world games in Taiwan in 1979. “I didn’t win anything but it was a fascinating trip.” 

He’d only been out of police college a matter of weeks when he was sent to Rotorua.

The major focus for police was keeping a lid on violence.

“There was huge gang presence in Rotorua in the 80s, particularly the Mongrel Mob, and without doubt they were involved in criminal activity.

 “There were a lot of pubs, big booze barns like The Palace and Lake House. When things flared up they really erupted into major fights which would escalate out onto the street.”

However it wasn’t a pub brawl that led to one of his few on-the-job injuries but a car crash. 

“Another officer and I were sent to make inquiries, someone had gone through the windscreen, those involved were very intoxicated and when we arrived at the hospital they immediately turned on us. I ended up with injuries to a knee which restricted me to light duties.”

That coincided with the start of the 1981 Springbok tour and kept him out of the protest action that was exploding across the country.

This was also the era when the drug of choice was cannabis. “I look back on it now and it seems almost laughable. Compared with what’s going on in the underbelly of society now.”

It was also the period that’s gone down in history as a time when a ‘bad police culture’ was claimed to be rife in Rotorua, subsequently resulting in four officers facing rape charges. Bruce hotly denies that all-encompassing bad boy branding.

Rotorua was where Bruce had his first taste of courtroom work.

“In those days there was always a police presence in the court, work now undertaken by security officers, we even looked after the jury.”

Then there were the times he gave evidence at defended (not guilty) hearings.

Being cross-examined by local lawyers was, he reflects, no easy ride but good grounding for a legal career yet to come.     

From Rotorua he transferred to Auckland for CIB training, working as a detective sergeant in South Auckland for five years.

“One thing being a police officer taught me is that you can get an awful lot more out of people by being polite, using humour, talking with them not at them. I don’t think I ever used my baton.”

That said, the carved baton traditionally presented to departing officers has held pride of place in the various offices he’s occupied since receiving it nine years after joining “the job” as police generally describe their occupation.

Enjoyable as his police years were Bruce Hesketh had developed a hankering to follow a wider legal career. With a young family it wasn’t an easy decision. “Back in the day the option wasn’t available to stay in the police and study part-time. Nor could you take time off without pay unless you were going overseas.

“I had to make the decision whether I was going to law school full time or work part time at another job. In the end I chose to bite the bullet, go full time and do paid work in the holidays. “

Accepted by both Auckland and Waikato universities Waikato won out for the simple reason it was far more financially viable to live in Hamilton than Auckland.

So did the cop turned law student leer it up and immerse himself in the usual student shenanigans? The answer’s a resounding ‘no way’.

“There was this very distinct group of older students diligently taking notes because we couldn’t afford not to pass.”

 From the outset Bruce had his sights set on legal work that involved family, criminal and employment law.

Post graduation he was back in Rotorua recruited by the long-established firm East Brewster, mostly working in its family law section.    

“Roger Brewster was one of the icons of the place, a wonderful fellow to work for, coincidentally he was also the city’s part time coroner. Those were the days before coroners’ courts were established by the 2006 Coroners Act.”

 From Rotorua he transferred to Tauranga working as a staff solicitor in another established practice. For four years he studied part-time for his Masters via the University of Auckland.

With his Masters completed he moved to Hamilton and opened his own chambers practicing as a barrister, along with three others.

“We had a good supply of work coming in, predominantly criminal work and I was in and out of the family court.”

Jury trials began to come his way. “This type of work is very time consuming, you are not just a lawyer for the legal issues, you become involved in the client’s personal issues, pragmatically you are their counsellor, then there’s the role of private investigator to find out the other side of what the accused was allegedly involved in. Legal aid doesn’t stretch to employing professionals.” 

Bruce accepts that for some the legal system and courts can be frightening experiences.

“I had a delightful 73-year-old client who was charged with wilful damage to a telephone because of her domestic situation, it was a devastating experience for her.  I really had to question why police resources were used in that way, fortunately an experienced prosecutor saw what was going on and we got her matter pulled away from the court by way of a bond to keep the peace.”

That was small bikkies compared with some of the major trials he’s been involved in during recent years, the majority gang and methamphetamine related.

One of the biggest was the outcome of Operation Kiwi during which a major drug ring was busted.

“There were about 14 accused in the Hamilton High Court, numerous counsel with junior counsel assisting them, that equated to about 21 or 22 lawyers.

“We had a similar situation here [Rotorua] involving a kidnapping with 11 accused. “Weeks and weeks of work go into trials of this nature. The police bring you multiple folders of cell phone text data that take a long, long time to read.  There is never enough money in the public purse that funds legal aid so there’s an awful lot of prep time you certainly aren’t reimbursed for.”

With so much time spent arguing cases before juries does he ascribe to the school of thought we’d be better off without them?

“I have heard all the arguments for and against and having specialist assessors to assist judges. My view is that although the jury system is expensive and people are inconvenienced if we want to take our rights and liberties seriously then each one of us in society needs to play their part and get involved, I think jury service is one of the most important things people can do.”  

His promotion to the Coroner’s bench came last year, it’s a side of the law that fascinates him.

Surely he must find it morbid dealing with death all day? “I’m very conscious we are dealing with death and the emotions families feel.  I just wish we had the facilities available to provide findings and closure to families more quickly but that has been addressed by the appointment of more coroners.”

Three are now Rotorua-based, up from one, each dealing with a different area of the country. Regardless, the caseload remains high with each holding an average of 250 files.

Bruce updates us on how the coronial system operates since the passing of that 2006 Coroners Act. Today most findings are made at the coroner’s desk, it‘s only when there’s a dispute about how a death occurred that an inquest’s held and expert witnesses (who often disagree) are called to testify in open court

It disappoints him more legal counsel are not involved in the coronial process.

“This is to the detriment of the families, more should be involved especially as legal aid’s available.”

Bruce makes no bones about it, his nine years in the police have been invaluable in his new role.

“They’ve helped immeasurably.”

Press him on how he sees his multi-pronged legal career and the word rewarding is set on a continuous loop.

“Everything I have done has been rewarding.  My career has been diverse, hugely satisfying. Even through the tough times the life experience I have gained has been rewarding.

“To be offered this position has been incredibly rewarding.”