Threat to kill among charges

Ruapehu Bulletin, 20 August 1991, Page 16

Threat to kill among charges

The following cases were heard in the Ohakune District court last Thursday by Judge Watson of Wanganui. Police Sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution and Traffic Officer

Ian Harrison of Ohakune appeared for the Ministry of Transport. Threat to kill Stephen Hoani Brown, 20, forestry worker of Ohakune, faced a total of four charges when he appeared before Judge Watson last Thursday, All charges related to incidents which had occurred the previous night. The charges include: unlawfully getting into a Bedford bus; causing intentional damage to two plate glass windows; threatening to kill Helen Margaret Aitken and Aran Brent Shivnan; and being a member of an unlawful group while attempting to procure liquor caused on reasonable grounds, others to fear the threat of violence. Defendant was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 19 September to answer all these charges. The police explained that they had not yet located a number of other offenders involved in these series of incidents. One of the conditions of bail was that defendant would not enter any licensed premises before his next court appearance. Prison Term Kevin Douglas Bull, 40, Access beneficiary of Raetihi was jailed for nine months when he appeared for sentence of burglary to which he had earlier pleaded guilty. In imposing a custodial sentence Judge Watson noted that defendant had many previous convictions for burglary and the community was becoming increasingly concerned about this particular type of offence in

Ohakune and Raetihi where many properties were left empty for much of the year. And, while the value of the goods taken by defendant from a dwelling house in Raetihi was in dispute, Judge Watson said he was particularly concerned to see that defendant had involved his 14 year old son in the offence by acting as lookout. CounseliBrian Mason. Fear of violence Michael James Blake, 37, solo parent of Ohakune, was charged that he, as a member of an unlawful group while attempting to obtain liquor caused, on reasonable grounds, others to fear the threat of violence on 14 August- the night before last week's Court hearing. The case was adjourned to 19 September at the request of the police who said that a number of other offenders related to this incident had not yet been located. Possible Diversion A 19 year old market g arden hand from Raetihi was remanded to next month to see if a charge of receiving a brown leather jacket valued at $400 on or about 28 July, could be dealt with by way of the diversion scheme. No Joke Clyde William Clarke, 22, labourer of Raetihi', pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the Waimarino Club in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on the night of 28 July. He was apparently unaware of the silent alarm which alerted a member

of the club to his presence. When confronted by the member, defendant - who was heavily intoxicated - said he had broken in to get some potato chips and "as a joke". His break-in had caused $109 worth of damage to a window. He was remanded on bail to appear for a probation officers report and sentence on 19 September. Counsel; Paul Brown. Adjourned to seek further information George Lee Hemara, 21, unemployed of Whakatane, faced two charges relating to theft of property from Rail Freight. One charge alleged that defendant had stolen 16 cartons of Muller Thurgau wine, seven cartons of picture frames and six cartons of 'Mother Earth' health food bread loaves to a total value of $2500. The second charge alleged defendant had been seen behaving in a suspicious manner to commit a crime at the Tangiwai railway siding on 7 August. Police requested the case to be adjoined to 19 September in order to seek further information from the complainant, NZ Rail Freight. Counsel: Paul Brown Adjoined for diversion A 17 year old unemployed youth was remanded to appear next month to see if a charge of assault on 7 June has been dealt with by Diversion and satisfactorily completed by 19 September.

Failed to report Aaron Tremain Prior Horne, 23, of Lower Hutt, was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court next month on three charges. One charge related to driving while disqualified on 7 March and two charges related to his failure to report in Upper Hutt to serve out a sentence of periodic detention, first on 22 February and then again on 3 May. At the request of the Police defendant was remanded on bail until 19 September so that the relevant files could be obtained from Wellington. Counsel: Paul Brown Careless use Brian Thomas McFadyn, 31, market gardener of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to two charges involving driving without the right class of licence for that vehicle and with careless use of that vehicle. Court heard how defendant had been driving north on SH4 through Raetihi and proceeded to turn right into SH49 when he collided with another vehicle travelling south on SH4. Both cars had their headlights on but defendant said that he hadn't seen the other vehicle approaching. On the careless driving charge he was convicted and fined $250 court costs $65 and disqualified for two months. On the charge of driving without the appropriate licence he was convicted and fined $100. Interim suppression A 29 year old female was granted interim name suppression when she appeared on a charge of having conspired to prevent the course of justice by procuring a j cash receipt from the Ohakune Hotel purporting that the receipt re- [ lated to the purchase of 10 dozen quart-sized bottles of beer. She is to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 19 September for the taking of a plea. Counsel: Paul Brown Blasting Infringement Ohakune Engineering, through their counsel, Paul Brown, sought and were granted an adjournment to establish the details of a charge which stated that the defendant had "failed to observe blasting regulations by carrying out blasting in other than an authorised blasting enclosure" on 20 February. Illegal fishing Phillip Wayne Keenan, 25, butcher of Ohakune was convicted and fined $300, court costs $65 and ordered to pay solicitors fees of

$75 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of fishing in the Ohakune Lake on 18 November last year. Paul Brown appeared for the Taranaki Fish and Game Council. Brian Mason appeared for the defendant. Case transferred Rasmus Peter Nygaard, 18 labourer of Whangarei pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to get into a 1971 Ford Cortina in Thames Street, Ohakune, on 1 August. Court heard how defendant, using a key he had brought from home, managed to open the door of the Cortina. However the owner's companions saw and stopped the defendant who then ran away before being caught. He was remanded on bail to appear in the Whangarei District Court on 2 September and ordered to report to the probation officer in Whangarei as soon as he arrived in that city. Idle hands Damian Mark Picchi, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Kenson Industries in Levin on 28 September last year. His counsel pointed out that this was a classic case of idle hands, his client had always managed to keep out of trouble while in work. In imposing a sentence of 12 months supervision Judge Watson noted that defendant had managed to keep out of trouble for the past year while living with his grandparents in Ohakune, However defendant was ordered to take drug and alcohol counselling as necessary and to make reparation of $1524 to Kenson Industries at the rate of $30 per week. Counsel: Brian Mason Unlawful Entry Dean Francis Richards, Access trainee of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully entering the Movie World Video Parlour in Raetihi on 3 August. At the request of the Police he was remanded without plea to appear again on 19 September so that further enquiries can be made. Excess Breath Alcohol Michael Peter Ryan, 28, technical saies representative of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol on SH49 on 26 June. Court heard how defendant had attended a function that evening at the Winstone Samsung Pulp Mill prior to leaving for China the following day. As he was driving home to Ohakune after 11 pm in a company car he lost control and crashed

through a fence to land upside down in a pool of water. Judge Watson agreed with defendant's counsel that the accident had probably occurred because of a combination of fatigue, stress and alcohol. But the main factor was the latter for, without it, the other two would not have been enough to cause the loss of control. He was convicted and fined $750 and disqualified for 7 months. Counsel: Brian Mason. Obstruction Moses Jerry Tamatea, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to three charges arising from an incident which occurred on 19 June. The charges were that: he drove carelessly; he failed to report an injury accident within a reasonable time; he obstructed a traffic officer in the execution of his duties. Court heard how the vehicle which defendant had been driving crashed into a bank when it attempted to turn onto SH49 from the Whangaehu Valley Road. The aCcident was seen and reported by the driver of a Telecom van but when the site of the accident was visitcd by the MoT, the vehicle was unattended and empty. It was only later it was discovered that three of its occupants were in the Waimarino Hospital as a result of injuries sustained. When questioned by a traffic officer defendant denied that he had been the driver and continued to do so. This necessitated considerable investigative work to be done before it could be confirmed that defendant had in fact been driving the vehicle at the time. Judge Watson said that the MoT had better things to do than chase around making unnecessary enquiries and wasting traffic officers' time. Defendant was convicted and sentenced to a total of 50 hours community service and disqualified for four months, It was pointed out that he already owed $600 in fines. Counsel: Brian Mason.