OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 478, 23 March 1993, Page 12

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Burglary charges William Wipiri Allen, 25, and Ian Thomas Hemara, 18, both of Ohakune, were each sentenced to 150 hours community service when

they appeared on a joint charge of breaking and entering a dwelling house in Foyle Street, Ohakune, on 25 February. Court heard how both defendants, who had been ' at a party, had gone to the unoccupied house and gained entry in the early hours of the moming by breaking a louvre window. They had taken a guitar and a quantity of

liquor which they put in a backpack they found on the premises. Both the guitar and the backpack were later recovered by police. In addition to the 150 hours community service sentence they were also ordered to make reparation of $40 for the broken window and $50 for the liquor at the rate of $10 per week. They were both given

a final warning. Counsel: Brian Mason. Receiving ... joint charges Heather Maree Herbert, 36, solo parent of Ohakune and Christopher John Rangi, 32, bushman of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one charge of receiving a microwave oven valued at $500 and another charge of receiving a Philips colour TV valued at $500 on 17 February. Because Herbert was a first offender and had held a number of responsible community based positions before coming to Ohakune after the break- 1 up of her marriage she was given a 20-hour community service 1 sentence to be served in Hawera where she is to return. Defendant Rangi was given a 100-hour community service sentence because of a list of previous convictions including burglary and theft. Counsel: Brian Mason. Disorderly behaviour Georgina Trixie Ranahora Kiri, 39, solo parent of Raetihi pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place, Ruapehu College, on 4 March. Court heard that defendant had gone to the college to see about a problem concerning her daughter but, instead of waiting to see the teacher

concerned, had entered the classroom block and sought out the deputy principal whom she abused verbally using foul language within hearing of students. Judge Watson told defendant that her behaviour and swearing in front of children had been "appalling" and quite inexcusable, "That was no way to resolve the matter satisfactorily", he said. Defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence (if she re-offended) and ordered to pay court costs of $95. Theft by finding Vernon Leslie McLeod, 25, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to theft by finding when he was charged with taking a motor vehicle sun-roof valued at $100 at some date between 1 December 1992 and 15 January 1993. Court heard that McLeod had claimed to have found the windscreen at the Ohakune rubbish tip after it had been removed from a motor vehicle which had earlier been stolen on 4 October. In accepting defence counsel's explanation that defendant had not been involved in the original theft of the motor vehicle, Judge Watson said that he was becoming very sceptical about the "found at rubb i s h d u m p explanations".

McLeod was convicted and sentenced to 50 hours community service. Counsel: Paul Brown. Anger management ordered Jack Lewis Ross, unemployed of Raetihi pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his de-facto partner on 18 February after an argument developed. He was convicted and sentenced to 9 months supervision during which time he was ordered to undertake anger management and alcohol counselling. Counsel: Brian Mason. Possession Brendan Carl Scott, 29 unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded for a defended hearing on 22 April on a charge of possession of cannabis seeds on 10 December last year. Defended hearing Martin Gorden Jahnke, 38, painter decorator of Ohakune, pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to produce a Class B drug (opium) on 2 January. He was remanded at large to appear for a defended hearing on 22 April. Counsel: Brian Mason. Assault Patrick Penata Condon, 40, shed hand of Raetihi, was remanded at large without plea to 22

April to answer a charge of assaulting a female on 26 December 1992. Counsel: Paul Brown. Conditions of bail Colin Barry Philips, 37, bushman of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting a female on 24 February. He was remanded on bail to 22 April on the condition that he does not associate or communicate with the complainant, Claudine Michelle Herewini, in the meantime. Counsel: Paul Brown. Curfews imposed Jerry Maxwell Moses Tamatea and Bessina Tuhi Te Reinau Pehi, both 19 and unemployed of Ohakune appeared on receiving charges. Tamatea pleaded not guilty to receiving electronic goods and jewellery to the value of $5,750 from Clayton Zohs on or about 27 January. Pehi pleaded guilty to receiving a Citizen watch valued at $200 and a 14inch television set valued at $500 between 28 January and 11 February. Tamatea was remanded on bail to appear for a defended hearing on 22 April and ordered to observe a curfew at 6 Moore Street, Ohakune, between 8pm and 7am until his next appearance. Pehi was convicted and remanded for a probaTurn to page 13

OHAKUNE DISTKCCT OOURT

From page 12 tion officers report and sentence to 22 April and ordered to observe a curfew at 6 Moore Street, Ohakune, between 8pm and 7 am until her next appearance. Counsel: Paul Brown. Driving while disqualiffied Francis Lee Mareikura, 30, access worker of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while disqualified and one charge of careless use of a motor vehicle at Tokoroa on 26 February though he said he had no recollection of going around a roundabout in the wrong direction as claimed by the prosecution.

On the driving while disqualified charge he was convicted and fined $200, court costs $95, and disqualified for 6 months commencing on 7 April when his present disqualification expires. On the careless use charge he was convicted and discharged. Joint appearance Gene Henare and Richard Craig Taura, both 19 and unemployed of Raetihi, appeared on joint charges: driving while disqualified, converting a Ford Falcon valued at $1,500 and breaking and entering the Timber Museum Village on State Highway 1 on

15/16 March. They were remanded on bail to appear for a defended hearing on 22 April and ordered not to drive a motor vehicle within the remand period or they would be held in custody until their next appearance. Counsel: Paul Brown. Remand to Wanganui Ariki Turae Toru, 17 unemployed of Wanganui, appeared on a charge of breaking and entering Jean City, in Clyde Street, Ohakune, on 15 March. He was remanded without plea to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 31 March.