Siri to blame for 'harrassing' calls to wife, Queenstown accused claims

  • 22/03/2017
Getty iphone siri phone technology
(Getty)

Siri, Apple's voice-activated phone system, could be to blame for dozens of "harassing" calls to a Queenstown man' estranged wife, a court has heard.

Carl Ngawhika, 32, was served a harassment notice against wife Eliza Zagaglia in June 2015 after she complained to police he kept calling her, the Otago Daily Times reports.

The Queenstown District Court heard how Ngawhika was interviewed in February 2016 following 32 more calls from December 2-19 in 2015.

He faces a charge of criminal harrassment.

He claimed he'd saved his estranged wife's name under 'b***h' on his phone and it was possible Siri had been calling her whenever he said the word.

Asked if he said the word near his phone at 2am often, he said there was a lot of "cussing and swearing" at his household.

Ngawhika said he didn't deliberately call Eliza and had only phoned her several times to discuss shared property and possessions.

He also offered a second explanation, saying a friend had noticed call-forwarding on his phone had been activated.

It had been that way since their wedding after his battery was low.

He claimed he'd then turned it off, but it would switch itself back on whenever he turned his phone off and on again.

A number of people had told him they'd left messages on his phone, but there were none when he checked.

Prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collins asked why no one had said they'd spoken to his former wife after trying to call him.

Ms Zagaglia told the court her former husband didn't take the split well and she moved from Arrowtown to Te Anau because she didn't feel safe.

Judge Mark Callaghan reserved his decision, which is expected to be released on Thursday.

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