Antonie Dixon
Template:Future Antonie Ronnie Dixon became prominent due to heavy media coverage of his alleged crimes, partly because of the involvement of the methamphetamine drug known in New Zealand as 'P'.
The crimes
Dixon attacked two women, Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler, with a Samurai sword at Pipiroa in January 2003, severing their hands before the sword broke. After stealing a vehicle and travelling to Auckland, he fatally shot James Te Aute in Highland Park with a home-made sub-machine gun. He then engaged in a stand-off with the police while holding a hostage. Finally, 11 hours after he started, Dixon surrendered to the New Zealand Police.
The trial
During the trial, Dixon advanced a defence based primarily on insanity. Photographs of Dixon at the trial were featured in leading newspapers around the country. At the conclusion of the trial, Dixon was convicted of murder and several other serious charges. He was however acquitted on five charges of attempted murder.
The appeal
Following Dixon's conviction for murder, he appealed to the Court of Appeal with three arguments. Firstly, it was argued that the High Court judge did not properly instruct the jury on the law relating to insanity. Secondly, the High Court judge did not properly instruct the jury on the law relating to insanity; and thirdly, that manslaughter should have been available to the jury as an alternative verdict to manslaughter. On 7 September 2007 the Court of Appeal overturned Dixon's convictions and ordered a new trial. While a date has yet to be set, the new trial will likely be held in the latter half of 2008.
Dixon in popular culture
Due to the nature of the crimes and the prominence of the trial, images of Dixon took root in the public psyche. Some aspects of the crime, such as Gumbie's severed hand giving the bird, or the use of the home-made sub-machine gun and claims of being followed by 747s, were viewed as humorous.
During the trial, Dixon's facial expressions and haircut became a source of amusement for many.
- On the television program Eating Media Lunch, cast members could be seen wearing T-Shirts with an unflattering portrait of Dixon's face printed on them.
- On an episode of Bro'town Vale Pepelo described "upside-down b" (a euphemism for P) as "that highly addictive drug that makes you cut off peoples hands!" a reference to the Dixon case.
- Dejavoodoo referenced the case in their song P with the lyrics "I smoked P and I didn't cut anybody's hands off".
- Craccum, the Auckland University Students' Association magazine, recently referenced Antonie Ronnie Dixon in Issue 9, 2007, saying that Dixon had made his hairstyle "...the most popular haircut in West Auckland since the mullet."
- Dixon has been immortalized in song by Lower Hutt Grindcore band Backyard Burial in a whimsical number called You're not getting your hand back.