Burglary charge

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 608, 17 October 1995, Page 14

Burglary charge

Zelynda Gae Paul, 19, solo parent of Rangataua, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary after a charge of threatening to kill or cause grievous bodily harm was withdrawn by consent. The charge of burglary related to the theft of liquor from the Hot Lava Niteclub on 27 July. Court heard how the defendant had been requested to leave the nightclub when she became intoxicated. However, instead of leaving the premises altogether,

she had returned from time to time to ask staff to contact a friend who was still in the club. She had then climbed some exterior stairs to the verandah (which was then under construction) and forced her way in through doors which gave her access to a fridge containing liquor on the upper floor. She fled when she was seen by members of staff who, after calling police, noted that a quantity of liquor was missing from the fridge. This was later found

concealed under some building materials. Defence counsel, Paul Brown, said that his client had admitted this offending to police when arrested and that her out of character behaviour was affected by alcohol. He assured the Court that this was a "one-off ' situation which was unlikely to be repeated. Defendant was convicted and sentenced to 75 hours community service and ordered to pay reparation of $140 at the rate of $40 per week.