Remand for sustained domestic attack

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 571, 31 January 1995, Page 6

Remand for sustained domestic attack

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Friday 27 January. Police Sergeant Luke Crawford of Taumarunui appeared for the prosecution Remanded in custody George Ashford Pekamu, 22, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault and was told he would be remanded in custody until he was sentenced because he was facing a probable jail term when he appeared in the Wanganui District Court on 7 February. The three charges of assault on a female involved the same woman: his defacto wife, Caroline Pui.

The first, on 23 October, was described as a sustained attack involving slapping, punching, head-butting, biting, kicking and attempting to strangle the complainant who escaped by climbing out of the window and running away. When attempting to defend herself with a stag's antler during the second attack Pekamu grabbed it and struck her in the face with it. The third attack arose as a scuffle when Pekamu learnt that complainant had thrown out his sunglasses. The scuffle developed into a fight during which the woman was punched about

the kidney area and struck on the nose causing her to lose a considerable amount of blood and fall screaming to the floor. When police were called Pekamu at first denied all knowledge of the offences. A request for bail from defence counsel Paul Brown on the grounds that Pekamu had been in custody since his last appearance, was declined by Judge Watson who said that Pekamu would probably receive a jail sentence because all three assault charges involved considerable violence. Unwelcome Murray Morris, 22,

bushman of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of car conversion and one charge of theft of a dog. The car which was converted was taken in Rotorua on 1 3 November and found abandoned near Turangi after it had been involved in an accident. The theft charge resulted when Morris sold a Rottweiler dog which was on his property in Dargaville - but which was not his - to someone who paid $200 for the animal After convicting Morris on bpth charges, and having read the list of defendant's previous convictions before sentencing, Judge

Watson questioned him closely about his reasons for being here (in the local community) and his future intentions. Judge Watson saidhe was already concerned about the amount of violence in this community and the number of assault charges coming before the Court. The arrival of a person with such a background - which included threats to kill and assaults with intent to injure - gave him extra cause for concern. " I would prefer a person with your record not to come here," he said .... "but there' s nothing the Court can do about that". However, the fact that Morris had obtained some work in the District since

his move to the Waimarino, gave Judge Watson some hope that Morris might be intending to reform. Morris was remanded on bail to appear for a probation officer' s report and sentence on 23 February. Counsel: Gary Johnson. Convicted but discharged Jack Louis Ross, 39, forest worker of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Duncan Vincent Metekingi on 10 December. Court heard how Ross and members of his family, including his nine-year-old daughter, had been taunted and threatened. by Metekingi for some time before Ross took matters into his own hands to stop Metekingi's abusive and insulting behaviour: he hit Metekingi who was knocked to the ground after Ross learnt that Metekingi had threatened Ross' s nine-year-old daughter on the phone. Judge Watson asked Ross if the intimidation by Metekingi had stopped since he (Ross) had taken matters into his own hands to which Ross replied with an emphatic "Yes". Judge Watson explained that he would have to convict Ross because he had pleaded guilty to the assault charge but he would be discharged without penalty. "Priority fixture" Duncan Vincent Metekingi, 19, unemployed of Raetihi, faced charges of assault on a female, threatening with intent to intimidate and intentional damage. He pleaded guilty to the charge of intentionally damaging fixtures and furniture in a dwelling house belonging to Duncan and Hillary Metekingi at 16 Duncan Street, Raetihi, on 2 January. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of threatening with the intention of intimidating Lesley May Hansen on diverse dates between 20 November and 13 December, and to assaulting a female, Moana Tekura, on 2 January.

In granting bail Judge Watson told Metekingi that he must not associate with complainants or enter licensed premises during the remand period during which he must reside with his parents and observe a curfew. Judge Watson instructed the prosecution to make Metekingi ' s defended hearing on 23 February a "priority fixture". Sentencing options Darrin Paul Sakey, 20, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to three charges of driving while disqualified, the first in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, on 3 December and the next two on the same day (28 December) on State Highways 4 and 49 between Ohakune and Horopito. Defendant explained through counsel that the car he had been driving had clutch problems and he had been the only person capable of driving it to Horopito to obtain a replacement clutch. Judge Watson told Sakey that he was considering two sentencing options in view of defendant 's persistent past offending on similar charges: a jail term or community service. In Teaching his decision to impose a community service sentence Judge Watson noted that Sakey no longer had gang affiliations and had settled down with a partner and child. "A further prison sentence would have a negative effect by throwing your dependants onto the welfare system." On the three charges of driving while disqualified Sakey was convicted and sentenced to 80-hours community service but this was increased to a total of 120hours when he was recalled to the dock to answer charges of failing to pay outstanding fines which were thereby remitted. A nine-month disqualification period was also imposed. On two alleged recei ving charges to which he pleaded not guilty Sakey was remanded to appear for a defended hearing on 23 February. Counsel: Gary Johnson.