Sentence of supervision

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 454, 22 September 1992, Page 15

Sentence of supervision

Larry Taituha Tahana, 14, shearer of Raetihi, ippeared for sentence on hree charges to which he lad pleaded guilty at last nonth's hearing. The charges were: :ausing intentional damige to doors at the luapehu Hotel; being in jossession of a firearm vhile under the influence )f alcohol; recklessly iischarging a firearm (a >hotgun) while under the nfluence of alcohol and herefore not having sroper control of the iveapon. All these charges arose out of an incident on the night of 5 June when Tahana returned

home after drinking at the hotel and fired at least 20 shots into his own car causing $2,000 damage. This had resulted from frustration at finding that, after being told he had won a large sum of money, he learnt that in fact he had not done so. When called police found Tahana slumped forward in his car with the shotgun which still had one cartridge in it. Judge Watson said that when he first read the report on these charges he had a custodial sentence in mind because it had been a very dangerous situation and police and armed offenders squad did not know what to expect from the scene which

confronted them on the night in question. However, when he heard from defendant's counsel, Mr Paul Brown, that Tahana had completely abstained from alcohol since the night of 5 June, had undertaken anger-management, had expressed remorse and regret and had received full community support since the incident which had been completely "out of character", Judge Watson said that a sentence of supervision would be more appropriate. Tahana had shown "the intelligence and wit" to realise his mistake. On the charge of not having proper control of a firearm while under the

influence of alcohol Tahana was sentenced to 9 month's supervision during which he must complete the course on anger management control and undertake alcohol and budget counselling. For recklessly discharging a firearm he was convicted and fined $250. On the charge of intentional damage he was ordered to pay court costs of $95.