Cemetery damage repair estimate of $5510

Press, 1 July 1983, Page 7

Cemetery damage repair estimate of $5510

It would cost $5510 to repair six headstones in the cemetery of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Papanui, intentionally damaged by the two defendants, said Sergeant W. P. Creasey in the District Court yesterday.

Murray David Jenkins, aged 19, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue), and David James Reeves, aged 18, also unemployed (Mr P. B. McMenamin), admitted the offence which took place on March 13.

They were remanded on bail to July 14 for probation reports and sentence. Sergeant Creasey said that the two defendants had been seen by a passer-by to go into the cemetery and proceed to knock grave headstones over.

The police located the defendants nearby. Three gravestones were broken in half and three were smashed to pieces. Compensation was sought, said Sergeant Creasey.

Jenkins also admitted unlawful possession of an offensive weapon — a wooden mere — on June 10.

At 10 p.m. that day police were directed to the rear of a hamburger bar where a group of youths were reported to be preparing to fight. The defendant was found in possession of the mere which, he told police, he carried for protection against “the townies.” CHARGE DENIED A man charged that with reckless disregard for the safety of others he injured Patricia Merle Anderson was remanded to July 19 for a defended hearing. Neville William Hamilton, aged 32, unemployed (Mr T. Garrett) is charged with committing the offence on June 17. Bail was set at $BOO. BURGLARY CHARGES A youth facing four charges of burglary, and one charge of possessing keys capable of being used to take vehicles, was remanded on bail of $lOOO to July 7. Richard Allan Yates, aged 17, unemployed, is charged with burgling the premises of Loef’s Bakery, the Malibu Restaurant, the Westside

Gallery, and Mower Maintenance, Ltd. between May 29 and June 19. The defendant, who did not plead, was ordered to report daily to the police. DEPOSITIONS A man charged with stealing a wallet containing $lOO in casfi, on June 2, elected trial by jury. Dallas Stewart Tahere, aged 38, a refuse collector, was remanded on bail to September 9 for the taking of depositions. PERIODIC DETENTION A man convicted of receiving carpenters’ power and hand tools, valued at $4120, was sentenced to periodic detention for eight months. David Longstaffe, aged 21, a plasterer (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon) admitted the offence which took place on or about February 24. He told police’ that he bought the tools for $3OO in a tavern. Some of the tools were recovered at the defendant’s address after police executed a search warrant there.

It was while making the search that police found

eight cannabis plants growing under artificial lighting in a cupboard. Longstaffe told the police that the drug was for his own use. COMMUNITY SERVICE A woman who admitted stealing $1245 from her employer between December. 1982, and April 5, this year, was convicted and sentenced to perform 125 hours of community service. Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said that the offences had been committed while the defendant, Annette Kawi Shelford, had been employed as a cashier by the Countrywide Building Society. Shelford, aged 19, unemployed (Mr G. H. Nation) said he stole the money to cover mounting debts she had run up around the city. Compensation was sought, said Sergeant Dwyer. Mr Nation said the family of his client, a first offender, had already paid compensation and Shelford would now repay her family. In addition to community service Shelford was put on probation for 12 months.