OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 550, 23 August 1994, Page 8

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court Thursday 1 1 August. Police-sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Repeat performance Claus Joseph Becker, 38, painter of Rangataua, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol (800/1) and to one charge of driving while disqualified in Thames Street, Ohakune on 6 August. Because it was defendant's second drink-driving anddisqualification offence under almost identical circumstances and in the same place within the past 12 months, Judge Watson said he would call for a proba-

tion officer's report as Becker could very well be facing a custodial sentence. Becker was remanded for a probation officer' s report and sentence to 8 September Burglary and receiving charges Leslie James Christensen, 23, unemployed of Raetihi, was remanded without plea to appear on 8 September to answer to a number of burglary and receiving charges. The burglary charges related to the following addresses in Raetihi: 22 Ward Street; 34 Kings Street; 34 Seddon Street; 37 Seddon Street; 40 Queen Street: 32 Queen Street; 12 Grey Street; and 2 Hukeroa Street. Further charges are expected to be laid.

The receiving charges involved: weight-lifting equipment valued at $450 and a JVC video recorder valued at $200. Christensen was given bail on the same conditions which were imposed by Wanganui District Court following his arrest earlier this month. The conditions included a reporting clause to present himself at the Raetihi police station between 2-4 pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and to observe a curfew at 16 Duncan Street, Raetihi, between 7pm and 7 am during the remand period. He was also ordered not to associate with or contact his co-offenders and was warned that any single breach of his bail conditions would automatically

result in him being remanded in custody. Counsel: Paul Brown. Burglary charges Michael Anthony Hina Manihera, 19, unemployed of Raetihi, was remanded without plea to 8 September on eight burglary charges which involved the following Raetihi addresses: 34 Kings Street (between 20 June and 1 July); 37 Seddon Street (29 June - 1 July); 44 Seddon Street (30 June - 1 July); Good Health Wanganui at 40 Queen Street (8 July - 1 2 July); 22 Ward Street (4 July - 5 July); the dentist rooms at 1 2 Grey Street and the Waimarino Youth and Fitness Trust rooms in Ward Street (30 June - 1 July). He was given bail on the following conditions: he must observe a daily curfew at 22 Matai Street,

Taumarunui, from 7pm to 7am; he must report to the Taumarunui police station every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 2pm and 4pm; he must not associate with his co-offender during the remand period. Judge Watson said he was concerned about the number of burglaries committed by the defendant and warned Manihera that any breach of the bail conditions would see defendant automatically removed from the community Counsel: Paul Brown Bail conditions imposed George Lee Hemara, 33, unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded without plea to 8 September on a number of charges including one of causing intentional damage to glassware following an incident at the Ohakune-

Karioi rugby club last Monday, 8 August. He and two co-offenders had earlier appeared in the Taihape District Court and been remanded in custody. He was given bail on condition that: he resides at and observes a curfew at 18 Foyle Street, Ohakune, from 9pm to 7am; he does not consume liquor or enter licensed premises during the remand period; that he does not associate with his co-offenders. Counsel: Paul Brown Bail conditions imposed Thomas Ian Hemara, 19, unemployed of Palmerston North, was remanded without plea to 8 September to ans wer a number of charges including one of causing intentional damage to glassware in an incident at the Ohakune-Karioi rugby club Monday, 8 August. He and two co-offenders had earlier appeared in the Taihape District Court and been remanded in custody. . He was given bail oncondition that: he resides at and observe a curfew at 77 Rangiora Street, Palmerston North, from 9pm to 7am; he does not consume liquor or enter licensed premises during the remand period; that he does not associate with his co-offenders. Counsel: Paul Brown Bail conditions imposed James Manuel Honana, 29, unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded without plea to 8 September on a number of charges including one of causing intentional damage to glassware in an incident at the Ohakune-Karioi rugby club last Monday, 8 August. He and two co-offenders had earlier appeared in the Taihape District Court and been remanded in custody. He was given bail on condition that: he resides at and

observes a curfew at 11 Carter Terrace, Ohakune, from 9pm to 7am; he does not consume liquor or enter licensed premises during the remand period; that he does not associate with his co-offenders. Counsel: Paul Brown Good deed goes wrong Shelley Verity Walton, 19, shop assistant of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with a breath alcohol level of 500/ 1 in Mangawhero Terrace, Ohakune, on 7 August. She ■said she had never intended to drive that night but had done so in an emergency to help out in a situation which wasgettingoutofhand. She was convicted and fined $200, court costs $95 and disqualified for six months^ Receiving charge Robert Francis Paul, 34, of Raetihi, appeared on receiving a 40/40 lever action firearm from Thomas Hemara and Tahi Sweet. He said he was owed a debt by the owner of the gun and, because he was unlikely to be able to obtain repayment, he decided to keep the firearm. He was told that this was not the proper way of settling a debt and was convicted and sentenced to 1 00 hours community service. Counsel: Gary Johnson. Suspended sentence Martinus Dekker, 29, unemployed of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of assault to which he had pleaded guilty and been remanded for a probation officer' s report and victim impact report. Judge Watson described the offence as being "at the lower end of the scale" (he had pushed the complainant to the ground) when he convicted defendant and imposed a 12-month suspended sentence.