OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 553, 13 September 1994, Page 10

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The followingcases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police-sergeant Kani Edwards of Taumarunui appeared for the prosecution. Two remanded in custody Leslie James Christensen, 18, unemployed of Raetihi and Anthony Hina Manihera, 19, unemployed of Raetihi, were both remanded in custody for sentencing in the Wanganui District Court on 20 September when they appeared last Thursday. Christensen had pleaded guilty to 12 charges of burglary and two charges of receiving while Manihara admitted to nine charges of

burglary and one of wilful damage. All the offences occurred in Raetihi between 21 May and 26 August (details of which appeared in last month's Bulletiri). A total of $2396 is being sought from Christensen by way of reparation for his part in these burglaries and a reparation report has been called for when he appears in the Wanganui District Court next week. A full probation officers and reparation report has also been called for in respectof Manihera' soffending before next Tuesday. Counsel for both defendants: Paul Brown. Two further remands George Lee Hemara, 33,

unemployed of Ohakune and Thomas Ian Hemara, 19, unemployed of Palmerston North were further remanded to appear on several charges arising out of an incident at the Ohakune-Karioi rugby club on 8 August. The charges included: wilful damage; common assault; assaultusingablunt instrument; aggravated assault on police; use of threatening language. Bail was allowed to both defendants on the same conditions as those imposed last month to reside at nominated address, observe a curfew ; not to enter licensed premises or consume liquor during the remand period; not to associate with co-offenders etc.

However, in the case of Thomas Hemara, who requested that he be allowed to attend tangis in the Waimarino area, Judge Watson said that defendant could do so only after Mr Darcy Mills, court attendant and Matua Whanui had assessed the need to attend and local police had been told his expected time of arri val and departure. Counsel for both defendants: Paul Brown. "Ugly incident" Kaake Paul, 20, beneficiary of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting Alan Wayne Mareikura in Clyde Street, Ohakune, on 23 June after an argument and struggle in the public bar of the Ohakune Hotel spilled out

onto the street outside (as previously reported in the Bulletin). Defendant's counsel, Gary Johnson, told the Court that his client had joined in the fracas without knowing the circumstances and had done so only to help a friend, Jason Myles Hern. However, in sentencing Paul to 200 hours community service Judge Watson said that Paul had "gratuitously involved yourself in this ugly incident". Suspended sentence Claus JoSephBecker, 38, painter of Rangataua, appeared for sentence on one charge of driving while disqualified and one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol in Ohakune Junction on 6 August. In imposing a six-month

term of imprisonment suspended for nine months Judge Watson told the defendant that this was a serious offence because it was a repeat offence in almost the same place within a very short period. A further disqualification period of 12months was imposed which means that defendant will not be able to drive until 20 October 1995. Sentenced to prison Martinus Dekker, 36, unemployed of Raetihi, was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment when he appeared on a charge of assaulting a female, his de-facto partner, on 14 August. The offence took place three days after defendant had appeared in the Ohakune District Court on a similar offence, committed on 1 July, for which he had been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. Defence counsel Gary Johnson told the Court that on this second occasion his client had only reacted when a cup of hot tea was thrown in his face by complainant. However Judge Watson said that he regarded the second offence as a serious one because it had occurred so soon after the first and that such offending against females was unacceptable and inappropriate. Warrants for arrest Warrants for arrest were issued for Dean Frank Henare, 24, and Gene Henare, 21, when they failed to appear for a defended hearing on a charge of car conversion last Thursday. Bail conditions imposed John Llewelyn McLean, 26, operator of Ohakune, is to appear on 13 October to answer to one of two charges laid in the alternative. One charge was that he "injured Douglas Neill Oakly with intent to cause grievous bodily harm", the other that he "injured Douglas Neill Oakly in circumstances that, if death had been caused he would have been guilty of manslaughter". He was granted bail on condition that he resides at his home address and observes a curfew there be-

tween 8pm and 7am daily with the exception of Tuesdays when, for the purposes of attending night classes, the curfew will not begin until 9.30pm. He was told that he must not enter licensed premises during the remand period nor associate with the complainant. Counsel: Gary Johnson. Failed to give way Robert Maihi, 31 driver of Raetihi , appeared for sentence on a charge of careless driving. Court heard that Maihi who had been driving a truck and towing a three axle trailer along George Street, Raetihi, on 13 July had failed to stop at a 'Give Way' sign and had collided with a van at an intersection. A passenger in the van had received cuts which required stitches. Counsel Paul Brown explained that his client had checked for traffic but had failed to see the van possibly because of the large side mirrors with which the truck was fitted. In sentencing defendant to 120 hours community service and disqualifying him for six months Judge Watson said it was particularly important for drivers of large heavy vehicles to take extra care at intersections as they have a higher onus of responsibility to avoid collisions with other traffic. Three charges Phillip Pui Maniapoto, 44, beneficiary of Ohakune, was further remanded to 1 3 October after first appearing in the Wanganui District Court on charges of . assault and resisting police on 25 August. The charges were that: he assaulted Maxwell Charles Hodder with intent to injure; he assaulted police constable Stuart Ngatai of Ohakune; he resisted police constable Robert Dowman in the execution of his duties. B ai 1 was allowed on condition that he resides at his home address in Arawa Street, that he reports to the Ohakune police every Monday and Friday , that he does not enter licensed premises or associate with the complainant Hodder during the remand period. Counsel: Gary Johnson. CONT'D PAGE 14