Bushman convicted of wilful vehicle damage charges

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 306, 26 September 1989, Page 6

Bushman convicted of wilful vehicle

damage charges

The following cases were heard at the Ohakune Distiict Court on Thursday 14 September by Judge Unwin.

Stephen Hoani Brown, 18, bushman, pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawfully taking motor vehicles,

two of taking bicycles and one of wilful damage. He was remanded to 12 October for sentence on the condition he re-

main in the Ruatiti area and adhere to an 8pm to 6am curfew. The Court heard from Sergeant Russell England that on 31 March Brown took a car he had seen in a paddock near his home. While driving the car he lost control and hit a fence, damaging the car and then returning it to the paddock. $1500 in damage was suffered by the car. With three companions he took a $70,000 tractor from an Ohakune market gardener's shed on 14 August. One of the other people took over driving the tractor and lost control and

rolled it causing $40,000 of damage. The four then stole two bicycles and rode back to Ohakune. Excess alcohol Emmanual Howe, 25, solo father, pleaded guilty to driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 200 and driving while never having had a driver's licence. He was convicted and fmed $250 and disqualified for six months. Disqualified driving Stephen Xaivier Bishop, 31, market gardener, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on 4

September and was convicted, fined $250 and disqualified for an extra six months. Cannabis Vernon Leslie McLeod, 30, unemployed was convicted for cultivating six cannabis plants and ordered to pay an instant fine of $400. In default of payment he would serve 60 days in prison. He was told it was time he grew up. Excess alcohol Warrick Ashton Beatie Kyle, 24, fitter and turner pleaded guilty to driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 119:1 on 19 August. Kyle was in-

volved in a non-injury accident where a car, with no lights on, did a U turn in front of him. His car was badly damaged in the incident and was off the road. He was convicted and fined $550 plus ordered to pay $54 in DSIR expenses and medical expenses of $38. He lost his licence for six months. Excess alcohol Robin Ian Rowles, 42, unemployed, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath alcohol level of 222:1. He was remanded to 12 October for sentencing, to

ascertain if community service was appropriate. Excess alcohol William Gardener Wilson, 50, contractor, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath alcohol level of 450:1. He was fined $550 and disTurnpage 16

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

From page 6 qualified for six months. Common assault and wilful damage James Christensen pleaded guilty to common assault and not guilty to intentional damage, involving a

Telecom telephone. He is to appear in the ODC on 23 November. Heroin possession Peter Fitzgerald entered no plea to a charge of possession of heroin and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, He was to appear in the ODC on 12 October. Threatening behaviour Garth Hiroti pleaded not guilty to threatening behaviour and is to appear in the ODC on 12 October.

Refusing to accompany Phillip Jerry Hiroti pleaded not guilty to refusing to accompany a police officer and is to appear on 12 October. Aggravated assault Dean Hiroti pleaded not guilty to escaping police custody, aggravated assault on a police officer and threatening behaviour. He is to appear in the ODC on 12 October. Theft Steven Aaron Albert was to be charged with theft but time to seek a "diversion" was granted (where, if he were to plead guilty, arrange-

ments are made with police and the complainant to provide reparation to the complainant and community work is carried out). Intentional damage Darren William Condon had paid $1000 of the $2000 damage he did to a Barman's car in Raetihi, had paid $149.50 in reparation for failing to report the damage and was given until 12 October to get a driver's licence on a charge of driving without a licence. Arrest warrant Mark Anthony Espiner was to appear on a charge of unlawfully

getting into an ambulance. He wrote to the court asking to be excused but Judge Unwin said he was not excused and issued a warrant foi his arrest. Burglary Marvyn Lindsay Feilding pleaded nol guilty to a burglary charge and elected to be tried by jury, which will be in the Wanganui District Court. Depositions will be heard in the ODC. Theft of pigs Colin Barry Phillips was found not guilty of discharging a pistol and found guilty of theft of six pigs. The court heard how Phillips let six pigs belonging to a neighbour out of the neighbour's paddock. He set his dogs onto the pigs and stuck five of them

and shot one. Witnesses told the court that, while the incident occurred close to a dwelling, he had .pointed the pistol towards the ground to shoot the pig. Thus he had not endangered the safety of the property. He was found guilty of theft cf the pigs, although he did not remove the animals. This

was because he had dealt with the pigs in such a way that they could not be returned to their owner in their previous state, ie alive. Phillips claimed the pigs had been rooting the ground in his paddocks, but witnesses said he had let the pigs out of the neighbour's paddock.