OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 521, 1 February 1994, Page 8

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The follo wing cases were heard by Judge Lynton Laing in the Ohakune District Court on Thursday 20 January. Police sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Class 'B' drug Peter Desmond Fitzgerald, 33,unemployed of Rangataua was remanded without plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 24 February to face two charges involving a Class 'B' drug namely a plant genus papaver somiferum (poppy). One charge related to allegedly culti vating the plant between 1 January 1992and 21 June 1993. The second charge related to a list of utensils alegedly used in the commission of an offence under

the Misuse of Drugs Act which he had in his posses- ' sion between 22 Marchand 8 May 1993. Counsel: Paul Brown. Joint assault charges Three offenders faced charges of assaulting Alistair Neil Jelley on 5 January 1994. They were: Robert David Grossart, 20, unemployed of Raetihi, Hare Joshua Rewi, 18, studentof Raetihi; Douglas John Sattler, 21, garden-hand of Raetihi. All were remanded without plea to appear on 24 March. Counsel: Jeremy Nash. Used documents Andrea Leigh McPhillips, 22, sickness beneficiary of Rangataua, appeared to answer three

charges of using documents (three National Bank cheques) to obtain a pecuniary advantage to herself on 5 November. She was remanded without plea to appear again on 24 February. Counsel: Jeremy Nash. "Went too far" Rangi Howard Jones, 32, soldier of Waiouru, appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting his 12year old step-son, Dallas Henare O'Reilly. Court heard how defendant had tried to discipline the child after discovering that he (the child) had committed thefts and would not own up to them giving different but untruthful explanations each time the was asked. "Dallas would not 'fess

up' despite being spoken to severely" said Jone' s counsel Mr Paul Brown. It was only then that the physical assault occurred. In his summing up Judge Laing said that every parent was entitled to discipline a child and even corporal punishment where necessary was not questioned in certain circumstances ... "but you went too far", he said. He thanked defendant's commanding officer at Waiouru for a "very helpful report" saying that the New Zealand Army system provided both oversight and supervision to ensure that such an incident would not be repeated. Jones was given a 12month prison sentence suspended for 2 years. Counsel: Jeremy Nash. Denied bail

Richard Craig Taura, 20, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to one charge of stealing a 1974 FordFalcon valued at $2500 on 30 November as well as to a charge of driving while disqualified in Pukekaha Road, on 2 December. Police objected to an application for bail as defendant had committed similar offences whilst on bail and was due to appear in the Tauranga-Tokoroa courts on these other charges. Taura was remanded in custody to appear in the Tokoroa Court this week on a charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. Counsel: Paul Brown. "Serious offence" Taura Elizabeth Taku, 33, solo parent of Wanganui, was remanded to appear again on 24 Feb-

ruary to answer a charge of receiving a 1981 Holden Commodore car valued at $5000 on 2 January 1994 from Thomas Te Aho. She was advised to seek legal advice before her next appearance as this was "a very serious offence". Further remand Tex Te Whenua Tuirirangi, 42, sickness beneficiary of Pipiriki, was again remanded when he appeared on one charge of unlawfully possessing a .22 calibre rifle on 3 December and to one charge of receiving a .22 calibre rifle be-

longing to John William Ratima from a person or persons unknown on the same date between 18 August and 3 December. He is to appear again in the Ohakune District Court on24 February. Hehadbeen remanded from the December sitting to obtain legal advice. Fines remitted Phillip Puhi Maniapoto, 43, unemployed of Ohakune, had his fines remitted when an alternative sentence of 40 hours community service was imposed last Thursday.