OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 549, 16 August 1994, Page 6

OHAKUNE 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. "Appalling example of driving" Smiler Te Whiwhia Katene, 17, bushman of Raetihi, appeared on three

charges related to an incident on 5 August which Judge Watson described as "an appalling example of driving". The charges were: that he intentionally damaged a grass verge and fence in Duncan Street, Raetihi ; that he used a motor vehicle recklessly on SH4; and that herefusedto supply aspecimen of blood when asked to do so by the arresting police officer. Court heard how Katene had been followed by a police car after he had been seen doing "wheelies" , in Duncan Street (behind the Raetihi rugby club) and then spinning and crashing into the fence around the children' s playground on SH4. The police car, with lights flashing and siren sounding, followed the Holden Commodore which Katene had been driving for 5kms down the Parapara road (SH4) before Katene lost control and crashed into a

pole. In passing sentence Judge Watson said it was a typical case where "a combination of alcohol, youth and a powerful car" had resulted in what could have been a much more serious accident. For refusing to supply a specimen of blood, Katene was convicted and fined $1000, court costs $95. On the reckless driving charge he was convicted and fined $400, court costs $95. On the charge of damaging a grass verge and fence he was ordered to pay reparation of $449 plus GST to the Ruapehu District Council. Counsel: Paul Brown. Unlikely explanation Carl Kevin Morris, 17, garden worker of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of depositing litter in a public place and to a charge of resisting a police constable in the execution of his duties on 5 August. The littering charge includedthe words: "depositing glass beer bottles on SH4, the said litter being of such a nature as to be likely to cause physical injury to any person coming into contact with it". The court heard how Morris had thro wn beer bottles out of a car in which he was a passenger while beirtg pursued by police. Through his counsel Morris said he had only thrown the bottles from the car (driven by Smiler Katene - see earlier) because, at the age of 17, he did not want to be found in possession of alcohol. Judge Watson said that this was an "unlikely expla-

nation" and expressed concern that the beer bottles were being thrown in front of the police vehicle. On the charge of resisting arrest Morris said police had used more force than necessary after the car in which he was a passenger crashed into a pole on SH4 five kilometres south of Raetihi. On the charge of resisting arrest he was convicted and fined $250, court costs $95. On the charge of depositing litter he was convicted and fined $500, court costs $95 and, because the charge related to a public road on which other vehicles could be damaged, a six-month disqualification period was imposed even though he had not been driving. Counsel: Paul Brown. The 'demon drink' Douglas David Speers, 23, bushman of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of intentionally causing damage to a plate glass door at Ohakune New World on 1 May. Speers was to have submitted a revenue and expenditure account so that the court could assess his ability to pay reparation for the "thousands of dollars" he owed for committing similar offences while under the influence of alcohol. He had not prepared such an account but had paid $100 to the Court. Judge Watson attributed all of Speers' problems to his consumption of alcohol saying "in most respects you are a reasonable citizen but when you consume alcohol you are about the most unreasonable in town and you

may not even know what you are doing". Court heard that Speers was on a waiting list to attend a residential course to treat his alcohol addiction and, in the meantime, was seeking work either in Feilding or Ohakune. He was told that if he does obtain employment he must pay $ 1 00 per fortnight or $50 per fortnight if he does not find work. Counsel: Paul Brown U-turn collision Andrew Donald Beggs, 30, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle in Clyde Street, Ohakune, on 28 July .

He explained that after checking traffic in both directions outside the Ohakune Hotel he had attempted to make a U-turn but had not seen a small motor cycle which had been following a van. After the collision - the motor cycle had collided with the rear left comer of defendant's car - he had stopped to render assistance to the female rider (who had sustained bruising to her leg) and waited to give a statement to police. He also offered to pay for any repairs to the motorcycle. Beggs was fined $100, court costs $95 and disqualified for three months.