Remanded in custody following threat

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 August 1990, Page 2

Remanded in custody following threat

Adam Dominic Stephen Haitana, 23, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty in the Ohakune District Court last week to a charge of burglary of the Kay Cee Stores in Seddon Street on 29 July. Court was told that after kicking a hole in the shop door in the early hours of the morning he crawled into the shop twice to remove cigarettes and cassettes valued at $1400. Of those items, property to the value of $825 had not been recovered, Defendant told the court that he had committed the burglary because the proprietor "who had Maori blood himself" had shown no respect for a Maori elder who had died. "Are you telling me that you burgled the premises for revenge?" asked Judge Toomey. "Yes," replied defendant. "In the old days I would have killed him with a patu." "In that case I'll remand you in custody until 30 August for a probation report and sentence," said Judge Toomey. Footnote: The proprietor of Kay Cee Stores later told the Bulletin he knew of no incident of disrespect that Haitana could have been referring to in court. He said the first he knew of any such claim was when the court report appeared in the Wanganui Chronicle last Friday.