OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 336, 15 May 1990, Page 6

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Judge Ryan of Palmerston North presided and police sergeant Russell England of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Careless Use Jacqueline Anne B ardsley, 25, self-em-ployed podiatrist of Lower Hutt pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle on 1 January while driving on SH4 after an alternative charge of causing bodily injury to Andrew B ardsley by careless use was withdrawn by consent. Court hear how defendant had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving the vehicle in which her hus- • band was a passenger. The car had left the road, hit a rock and overturned causing slight injury to Andrew B ardsley. Defendant was convicted and fined $250, court costs $65. Receiving Lindon Desmond Blake, 23, unemployed of Raetihi pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawfully getting onto a motor cycle and to two charges of receiving. Court heard how defendant had first been stopped riding a stolen motorcycle in Rotorua though he had not taken the vehicle from Hamilton. However this arrest led to a search of his residence which resulted in the two charges of receiving : a micro-wave oven which had been stolen from the BNZ in Raetihi and a television set from a Rotorua hotel, were found. He was convicted and fined $200 and ordered to pay court costs of $65 on each charge. Counsel: Paul Brown. Three charges Derek Te Waru O'Noema Gray, 31 unemployed of Pipiriki, appeared for sentencing on three charges: possession of cannabis seeds; possession of cannabis plant; and unlawful possession of a firearm, after a fourth charge of possessing a firearm (a .22 calibre rifle) without some lawful, proper or sufficient purpose was withdrawn by consent. Court heard how 8cm (including the foresight) had been removed from the front of the barrel as the gun was inaccurate and only intended for the shooting of rabbits and possums. Defendant was warned that any firearm (including .22 calibre rifles) shortened to less than 762mm is classified as a pistol and the penalty would have been much more severe. As it was, defendant was convicted and fined $150, court costs $65

on each of the three charges. The rifle was confiscated. Counsel: Paul Brown. False pretences S or ay a M ary Josephine Gray, 25, housewife of Pipiriki, pleaded guilty to two charges of false pretences involving employment. Court heard how defendant had been shuttled "back and forth like a yo-yo within the court system" since these charges were first brought and she shouldn't have been subjected to such treatment. However, she was convicted and ordered to make reparation of $964 at the rate of $50 per fortnight. She was also ordered to undertake 50 hours of community service on each charge. Counsel: Paul Brown. Unlawful possession Mark Taiaroa Haddon, 24, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a .303 calibre rifle after an alternative charge of possessing a firearm for some unlawful, proper and sufficient purpose on 24 March was withdrawn by consent. Court heard how defendant and a companion had returned to defendant's home from a hunting trip only to find his companion (whose rifle it was) was unable to start his car and rather than carry a rifle through the streets to his own home, reqiiested defendant to look after the rifle until it could be collected next day. Defendant took the precaution of separating the bolt from the rifle and placed the two parts in separate rooms. Unfortunately for defendant, his younger brother forced entry into the house, found the rifle and bolt and discharged the firearm in Arawa Street, Ohakune, the following morning. Defendant was convicted and fined $150, court costs $65. Counsel; Paul Brown. (Note: Defendant's 17-year-old brother was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment in the Wanganui District Court last month). Diversion Craig Andrew McGinniss, 23, trainee linesman of Ohakune, had a charge of supplying a .303 calibre firearm to an unlicensed person on 24 March, dismissed when Court heard that the case had been dealt with by way of diversion and that the terms of the diversion had been satisfactorily completed. No conviction would be entered on Court records. Assault and threats Daryl Wayne Pickery, 19, unemployed of

Ohakune, appeared on two charges arising out of an incident in Ayr Street, Ohakune, in the early hours of Sunday 6 May. These included assaulting a police officer and threatening a police officer. He was remanded without plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 8 June. Conditions of bail which were first imposed when defendant earlier appeared in the Wanganui District Court are to continue until his next appearance. These are that he observes a curfew at his home address in Arawa Street between 7pm and 6am each day and that he does not enter any licensed premises in the meantime. Counsel: Paul Brown. Diversion extended Kevin Ian Pine, 27, of Rangataua, was granted an extension until next Court sitting day (8 June) to allow him to complete his arrangements to fulfill his diversion commitment so that two charges in respect of the Misuse of Drugs Act can be dismissed without conviction. Last chance Stephen Charles Pui, 20, market garden labourer of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on four burglary charges, two charges of theft and one of wilful damage to which he had earlier pleaded guilty. Defendant was told by Judge Ryan that until his legal counsel made a submission on his behalf he (the defendant) was headed for a term of imprisonment. However, when Court learned that defendant was now working seven days a week as a market garden labourer it was felt that this commitment would not only keep him out of further mischief but also allow him to repay the reparation he owed. For the offences committed in July and August last year he was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to repay reparation of $1472 at the rate of $60 per week. For the offences committed in March and April this year his sentence was adjourned for one month to see what reparation payments he would make voluntarily towards the $1933 he owed. He was ordered to place his finances under the supervision of his probation officer and warned that any further misdemeanour would result in a term of imprisonment. Counsel: Roger Crowley of Wanganui. Reparation order Rebecca Paewa Taiaroa, 19, beneficiary of Raetihi, was convicted and sentenced to one year's supervision Turnpage 11

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

From page 6 and ordered to make reparation of $1,000 as her share in a number of theft (2) and burglary (3) charges committed with associates during July and August last year. These included breaking and entering the Raetihi Borough Council Building in Seddon Street, on 7 August, the Ritz Tearooms on 14 July, and a dwelling house on SH49 on or about those dates. The two theft charges involved two telephone units valued at $678. Her co-offenders have already appeared and been sentenced. To two further charges (one of stealing a wallet and contents on 9 October last year and one of using a document with intent to defraud) defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 5 July for a defended hearing. Counsel: Paul Brown. Bail conditions imposed Andrew John Tamatea, 25, unemployed of Ohakune, was further remanded without plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 8 June to answer several charges arising out of an incident in Ayr Street Ohakune in the early hours of Sunday moming 6 May. These included resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, escaping from the custody of a police officer and using threatening words

against a police officer. The conditions of bail - that the defendant observes a curfew at his home address between 7pm and 6 am and does not enter licensed premises - which were imposed when defendant first appeared in the Wanganui District Court, are to continue until his next appearance. Counsel: Paul Brown. Transferred Maui Toru Tane, 19, unemployed of Wanganui, was remanded in his absence to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 21 May to answer charges of possessing a knife in a public place (the Hot Lava Nightclub) without reasonable excuse on 21 March. Not guilty plea Julian Alexander Patrick Taylor, 22, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded not guilty to possession of cannabis leaf on 4 May. He was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 8 June for a defended hearing. Dangerous driving Ivan John Transon, 41 , farmer of Taihape was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 8 June to answer a charge of dangerous driving causing injury to Peter Gardner in Seddon Street, Raetihi on 10 February. Diversion Christopher John Wallace, 21, barman of Ohakune, had two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act dismissed when no evi-

dence was offered and Court heard that defendant had completed an alternative scheme of diversion whereby no conviction for the offences is recorded. Supervision A 26-year-old labourer from Raetihi was convicted and sentenced to one year's supervision when he appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting a female in what was described as a domesti-cally-related incident on 2 March. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. During the term of supervision defendant was ordered to undertake a course of counselling as his probation officer may direct. Legal counsel: Paul Brown. Defended hearing Two men, one a 49-year-old timber sorter and the other a 45-year-old shearer, were further remanded on bail until 5 July for a defended hearing in the Ohakune District Court after pleading not guilty to a charge of assaulting a female in January this year. Counsel: Paul Brown. Depositions Three local men were remanded to appear in the Taihape District Court on 26 July for the taking of depositions in a case involving the sexual violation of a young female between January 1988 and December 1989.