OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 504, 21 September 1993, Page 9

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police constable Brian Wilson of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Community care Mary Ponga, 42, garden worker of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting her de-facto partner, Thomas Wallace, on 22 July, after pleading guilty to the charge last month. The charge involved the use of a knife as a weapon. Court heard how Ponga had often been a victim in this violent relationship during which her partner had twice appeared before court on assault charges and had served a three-month prison sentence for an assault on the defendant. Her assault on her partner on this occasion was described as possibly "a pre-emptive strike to prevent being subjected to another violent beating" after both had consumed alcohol. Judge Watson pointed out that the consumption of alcohol could not be an excuse for committing such an act of violence and a custodial sentence might have been imposed had it not been for the very supportive report received from the probation officer as well as the support expressed by defendant' s marae committee. She was convicted and sentenced to 12-months community care. ' Counsel: Paul Brown. Driving while disqualified Peter Brian Speers, 23, unemployed of Raetihi, ' pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified in j Valley Road and to stealing four wheel rims valued at $60 from i. Horopito Motors on 31 August. Court heard how defendant, after visiting B Horopito Motors, had thrown the wheel rims over a fence and returned later to collect them. When apprehended in Valley Road it was found that he was a disqualified driver. In convicting and sentencing him to the maximum of 200 hours community service Judge Watson warned Speers that he was "getting very close" to a custodial sentence as this was his fourth conviction for driving while disquali-

fied. Defendant was also disqualified for a further period of 12-months from 29 September (the expiry date of his current disqualification). Counsel: Gary Johnson. Fines total $1000 Kevin Thomas Hall, 36, mill hand of Tangiwai, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified as well as a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol (500/1) in Clyde Street, Ohakune, on 31 July. Court heard that Hall became a disqualified driver six years ago and had never applied for a licence since. On the charge of driving with excess breath alcohol he was convicted and fined $800, court costs $95 and disqualified for nine-months. On the charge of driving while disqualified (there have been three similar convictions over the past eight to nine years), he was convicted and fined $200, court costs, $95 and disqualified for 12-months (concurrent). Counsel: Paul Brown. Bail conditions amended Thomas Ian Hemara, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, was further remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 18 November to defend a charge of stealing a denim jacket valued at $160 on 12 August. After pleading not guilty at last month's court hearing he was remanded until last Thursday for a defended hearing but when this wasn't able to proceed, a further remand was granted with a slight change in his bail and curfew conditions to allow him to visit his parents in Palmerston North during the remand period. Counsel: Gary Johnson. Remanded without plea Jason Thomas Reeve, . 20, mill hand of Raetihi, was remanded without plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 21 October on a charge of driving while disqualified on State Highway 4 on 3 September. Careless driving Pieter David Vlaadingerbroe, 31, unemployed of Wanganui,

was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 21 October to answer a charge of careless driving. Further remand Atawhai Snowy Kuru, 26, shearer of Mt Wellington, Auckland, was further remanded to 21 October on two charges of car conversion and one of burglary (of the Junction Ski Shop) for which he has already appeared in the Ohakune District Court on 17 June and again on 19 August. Counsel: Paul Brown. Other charges pending Donna Leona Louise Brass, 22, solo parent of Auckland, appeared on two charges before the court last Thursday but it was learned that several more charges (up to six according to police records) were "somewhere in the judicial system" throughout the North Island. The two charges before the court last week involved one of either burglary or receiving and one of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. In order to obtain details of the other charges the police sought and were granted a remand of defendant who has hecn ordered to appear in the Ohakune District Court again on 21 October. Counsel: Paul Brown. Common assault Tahi Laxon Sweet, 17, former ACCESS trainee bushman of Ohingnaiti, pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault on James McGinnis at 8pm in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, on 26 August. Court heard two different versions of the incident from complainant and defendant both involving provocation. Judge Watson told Sweet that if he had been observing the curfew which had been imposed on him (on other un-re-lated charges) when he appeared last month, this additional charge would not have been possible. He was convicted and sentenced to 50-hours

j community service. Counsel: Gary j Johnson. Community service Clinton James Bishop, 28, council worker of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol (700/1) on Provincial State Highway 49A between Ohakune and Raetihi on 27 August. He was convicted and sentenced to 75-hours community service and disqualified for sixmonths. Stole cigarettes Christopher Stephen Akapita, 36, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to stealing a packet of 'Holiday' brand cigarettes valued at $6.10 from Ohakune New World on 1 September. Court heard how defendant had up-lifted two packets but only paid for one before leaving the store. He was convicted and sentenced to 20-hours community service Counsel: Gary Johnson. Charges defended Fiona Elizabeth Evans, 19, unemployed of Karioi, pleaded not guilty to one charge of excess breath alcohol (700/1) in Miro/Ayr Streets, Ohakune, on 21 July and to one charge of careless use of a motor vehicle at the same time and place. She was remanded at large to appear for a defended hearing on 21 October Counsel: Gary Johnson. Gave false name Grace Haere, formerly of Rotorua and now residing in the Waimarino, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while disqualified and to one charge of providing false information when apprehended in Rotorua on 25 August by claiming another name. She explained that she "didn't want to get another ticket". She was convicted and sentenced to 60-hours community service and disqualified for a further 12-months.