District Court

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 473, 16 February 1993, Page 9

District Court

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Remanded in custody Clayton Graham Zohs, 21, mill hand of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a total of five charges. The four burglary charges involved dwelling houses in Lakes Road (9 February), Seddon Street, Raetihi (between 18-17 January), Tainui Street, Ohakune (between 5-7 February) and a 2-unit ski chalet (between 7-10 February). The fifth charge was one of behaving in a disorderly behaviour in a public place (Clyde Street, Ohakune) on 9 February. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 23 February for a probation officers report and sentence. Counsel: Paul Brown. "Serious violence" Dallas Clayton Elers, 24, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a female, Monique Kui, on 1 1 December. He had been remanded without plea at the December sitting of the Ohakune District : Court. Court heard how Elers had punched his 8-month pregnant de-facto partner twice in the face during an argument and then, when she ran out of the house, had knelt on her stomach when she fell over. When he was arrested, police reported that during an hour-long interview he had expressed no remorse nor had he expressed any concern about the welfare of his partner who had to be rushed to Wanganui Hospital by ambulance to have her condition and that of the unborn child checked. Judge Watson described the assault as one which involved "serious violence" which would make a sentence of imprisonment inevitable unless his counsel could advance some very per-

suasive mitigating circumstances. Elers was remanded in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 23 February for a probation officers report and sentence. Counsel: Paul Brown. Judge expresses concern Duncan Vincent Metekingi, 17, unemployed of Raetihi, appeared on a total of four charges. He faced two charges of failing to report as required under the terms of his parole after release from periodic detention. He pleaded guilty to one of these charges and not guilty to the other. Pleas of guilty were also entered on a charge of stealing shoes to the value of $3,000 from Ohakune Shoes Limited in Raetihi on or about 7 February and to a charge of causing intentional damage to a freshlypainted wall in a property in Seddon Street, Raetihi, by throwing tomato sauce and sugar at it on 3 February. In convicting and remanding Metekingi in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 23 February Judge Watson again expressed concern about how readily stolen property was Turn to page 12

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

From page 9 being disposed of foilowing a burglary in the Waimarino area. The burglary of Ohakune Shoes took place at approximately 3 am and by the time Metekingi was interviewed by poli^e at between 9- 10am, all trace of the stolen property had disappeared. Judge Watson asked: "How does a 17-year old offender get rid of nearly $3,000 worth of shoes within 6 hours?" Metekingi was remanded in custody for a probation officers report and sentence as well as a reparation report to see if the $2,918 claimed could be recovered. One other charge against Metekingi of threatening to kill was withdrawn by leave. Counsel: Paul Brown. Supervision Francis Lee Mareikura, 40, finishing operator of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of assault on a female on 19 November to which he had earlier pleaded guilty. He was convicted and sentenced to 6 months supervision and ordered to undertake alcohol and anger management counselling as well as budget advice. Counsel: Paul Brown. Careless use causing injury Nicolai Takutai TeMoana Ponga, 22, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury to Kuiama Melody Ponga on 4 December. Court heard how defendant had rolled his car on the Ohakune-Raetihi Road at 3.25am. i He was convicted and I fined $400, court costs $95 and disqualified for 6 1 months. Not guilty plea probable Vernon Leslie 1 McLeod, 23, unemployed i of Ohakune, was rei manded at large to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 18 March on an indication that a 'not guilty' plea would be made to a charge of stealing a motor vehicle sun-

roof valued at $200, it being the property of Michelle Beavis. The month-remand was in order to ascertain defendant's eligibility to legal aid. Counsel: Paul Brown. A 'sheepish' charge Robert Daniel Pickery, 26 unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving a sheep carcass valued at $30, one of eight sheep which had been stolen. Court heard how evidence of slaughter had been found in defendant's back yard but, according to his counsel, Pickery had no knowledge of this until he found one of the carcasses hanging up in an outside shed. Counsel Paul Brown advanced the theory that the carcass had been left behind by those responsible as a way of expressing thanks to his client for allowing his backyard to be used to conceal their activities. Pickery was convicted and sentenced to 40hours community service. Counsel: Paul Brown. Receiving Amanda Joan Pennikera Peke, 21, unemployed of Horopito, pleaded guilty to receiving a stolen Giant Acapulco mountain bike valued at $600, the property of Andrew Ross Phillips, between 13 November and 10 December, from a person or persons unknown. She was convicted and sentenced to 30-hours community service. Doctor's fee criticised Rodney Rangiora Tetawhero, 43, council employee of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of refusing a specimen of blood to be taken by a medical practitioner following an accident on the eastern Hutt Road on 17 October last year. A charge of driving a motor vehicle on the eastern Hutt Road with an excess breath alcohol level of 600/1 on that date was withdrawn by leave. Court heard how de-

fendant had requested a blood sample to be taken following an accident and after he had been breathtested at the scene. A doctor was called at 7.40pm but at that point defendant refused to allow a blood specimen to be taken. In convicting and fining Tetawhero $800, court costs $95 and disqualifying him for 8months, Judge Watson said he would have to assume, in the absence of evidence of a blood-test, that the level of the breath-test was correct. However when reparation of $129 medical fees was claimed, Judge Watson questioned the level of fee sought. He said that 7.40pm in the evening was not an unreasonable hour for a doctor to be called out and a claim of $129 was excessive particularly as no blood specimen had been taken. "Had it been a call out at 3.40am however I would have been more sympathetic," he said. Counsel: Brian Mason. First offender Leslie James Christensen, 17, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving eight pairs of shoes valued at $640, the property of Ohakune Shoes Limited, from Duncan Vincent Metekingi on 7 February. Court heard how Christensen had given away six pairs of shoes and had kept the remaining two pairs for later disposal in order to pay off some bills. He was convicted and sentenced to 80-hours community service. Counsel: Brian Mason. Attempt to produce opium Martin Gorden I Jahnke, 38, painter deco- I rator of Ohakune, was I remanded at large to ap- I pear in the Ohakune I District Court on 18 I March on a charge of at- I tempting to produce a I Class B drug, namely I opium on 2 January. Counsel: BrianR Mason.