The 33-year-old, once infamous for her role in the harrowing 2020 shootout that left Constable Matthew Hunt dead, found herself in the docks again, facing the music for her latest escapade: a major role in a meth-dealing enterprise.
Bracken, who previously claimed she was merely trying to defuse a deadly situation, has now been caught red-handed in the act of supplying the streets with nearly 1kg of meth. The Auckland District Court was the stage for this latest act, where Judge June Jelas handed down a sentence of five years and nine months in prison to the former cop-killer’s getaway driver turned drug dealer. With a quiet nod, Bracken accepted her fate, blowing kisses to her family in a final, before being led away, wrote the NZ Herald.
This saga began when Bracken, having served time as an accessory in the tragic killing of Constable Hunt, was immediately plunged back into the criminal underworld. Police raids on her Sandringham home, shared with then-partner and Comancheros motorcycle gang affiliate Zion Hamuera Holtz, unveiled a shocking scene: Bracken attempting to dispose of a bag filled with meth from a bedroom window. The discovery of encrypted messages on her phone revealed a barely coded narrative of meth sales, catapulting her back into the legal spotlight.
Holtz’s own seven-year and ten-month sentence for his role in the meth syndicate adds another layer to this sordid tale, highlighting a network of drug dealing that Bracken was deeply entrenched in. Despite attempts by her defense to paint her as a lesser player in this criminal enterprise, the court saw through the charade, acknowledging her significant role in supplying the streets with meth.
The court hearingwas not without its moments of human interest. Bracken’s turbulent backstory, involving a descent from a troubled youth into meth addiction and the sex industry, was laid bare. Her life, marked by abuse and hardship, offered a glimpse into the series of unfortunate events that led her to this point. Yet, Judge Jelas remained unmoved by attempts to leverage this past for leniency, focusing instead on Bracken’s present actions and their consequences.
The court heard of Bracken’s newest son, a symbol of hope amidst her life of chaos, who will remain with her in prison until he is two. The bond between mother and child, now set to be interrupted by incarceration put a spotlight on the personal toll of Bracken’s criminal lifestyle.
The judge also cancelled Bracken’s extensive total of fines as part of the sentencing.
