Sentence already served

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 276, 28 February 1989, Page 12

Sentence already served

From page 8 weeks in Auckland's Mt Eden Prison where he had had "a pretty rough time" according to his counsel, Mr D.G. Harvey. It appeared that de- ,

fendant had, some years ago, had a Mongrel Mob emblem tattooed on his skin though, according to counsel, he had never been a member of that organisation.

However when he had been remanded in custody to Mt Eden five weeks ago, he had found it difficult to persuade the Black Power gang members who occupied that prison, that he was not a member of the Mongrel Mob. Judge Toomey agreed with defendant's counsel that because defendant's co-offender had been sentenced to eight weeks periodic detention, defendant had already served an equivalent custodial sentence. He was therefore convicted and discharged. Summons not served Jason Thomas McNaught, an 18-year old unemployed man whose home address was given as Invercargill was to have appeared don two charges relating to offences which occurred in the Waimarino on December 9 last year. The charges involved one of driving with excess breath alcohol and one of driving a motor vehicle without ever having had a driver's licence at any time. Both offences occurred on the OhakuneRaetihi road (SH 49). Court heard how the summonses had been served at his parents' home in Invercargill but when it was pointed out that this particular category of summons had to be served to the offender personally, it was decided to adjoum proceedings until March 23 by which time the summons will be expected to have been re-served on the defendant.

Not guilty plea James Dean Ohlson, 24, unemployed of Raetihi, who was remanded without plea on two indecent assault charges against teenage girls when he appeared at last month's sitting, pleaded not guilty when he appeared again last Thursday. He was further remanded on bail until April 20 to appear in the Ohakune District Court for a defended hearing. The interim order for suppression of the 13-year old and 16-year old complainants' names, which was imposed at the previous sitting, was confirmed as a final name suppression. Counsel: P Brown. No proof of summons Darryl Wayne Pickery 18, market gardener of Ohakune, was to have appeared on a charge of driving while disqualifiec in Cylde Street, Ohakune on November 11 but because no proof of service of the summons had been established the case was enlarged to March 23. Breaking and entering Kani Brown Shortland, 17, unemployed oi Ohakune, pleaded not guilty to two charges of breaking and entering two Kaikohe properties - a dwelling house and a warehouse - when he appeared in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. He was remanded on bail to appear in the Kaikohe District Court on March 2 for a defended hearing on both charges. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. Three charges Jason Taiaroa, 18, unemployed of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on two charges to which he had pleadetjj guilty at the previous Court sitting. He also appeared for the taking of a plea on another charge for which he had earlier been remanded. The two charges to which he had pleaded

guilty were: possession of an offensive weapon and the theft of a packet of cigarettes. The charge for which he had also been remanded without plea was that of behaving in a threatening manner likely to cause violence and to this charge he pleaded guilty last Thursday. Court heard how defendant had accompanied a friend to an address where there had earlier been a confrontation. The defendant had carried a cricket bat in an attempt to settle scores. On the charge of possession of an offensive weapon defendant was convicted and fined $300, court costs $65. On a the charge of behaving in a threatening manner he was convicted and fined $200, court costs $65. On the charge of theft he was convicted and fined $75, court costs $65. He was placed under supervision for 12 months. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. Careless use Tony Te Hore Taura, 42, transport contractor of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury on November 5 last year. Court heard how defendant had been returning to Raetihi from Ohakune at night when he saw two sets of headlights approaching him from directly ahead. He assumed that one of these vehicles was overtaking the other so he pulled over to the shoulder of the road to avoid a collision but in doing so his own car's wheels ran into the grass verge. Defendant then *overcorrected' and ended up against a bank on the opposite side of the road. A passenger received minor injuries. Defendant was convicted and fine $300, court costs $65 and disqualified for six months. Counsel: P Brown. Driving charges Allan David Whale, self employed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one

charge of permitting person(s) to ride on a motor vehicle in a position liable to cause injury and to one charge of breaching a certificate of loading for that vehicle. Court heard how defendant had taken his passenger-carrying vehicle to the Turoa Village to pick up a group of skiers who required transport to Ohakune Junction on July 31. The group had "piled onto the vehicle", some sitting wholly or partly outside and were stopped by a traffic officer in Miro Street. On the first charge defendant was convicted and fined $200, court costs $65. On the charge of breaching the certificate of loading he was convicted and fined $50, court costs $65. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. Excess alcohoi Neil Victor Whale, 31, hay contractor, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol at eight minutes past midnight on December

10 last year...just eight minutes after new legislation had come into effect which increased penalties and fines for this offence threefold! Though it was his first offence he was convicted and fined $750 and disqualified from driving for seven months, the disqualification to take effect from the time his present haymaking contract expires on March 10.