OHAKUNE COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 614, 28 November 1995, Page 14

OHAKUNE COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court on Thursday 16 November. Police-sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Held in custody for being late Marcus Victor Herewini, 1 9, forestry worker of Raetihi, failed to appear when his name was called soon after Court commenced at 1 Oam last Thursday. He was to have pleaded to a charge of receiving four magnesium alloy wheels and tyres, a golf-bag, a trundler and 13 golf clubs together valued at $1500. His non-appearance resulted in a request for a warrant for arrest to be issued being granted. When Herewini tumed up some time later he was arrested and held in custody at the Ohakune police station until his appearance before the Court in the afternoon. He was then remanded to appear again on 7 December. Counsel: Eric Forster Extra glass tips scales Gavin David Jones, 19, soldier, was convicted and fined $400 and disqualified for six months when he pleaded guilty to a charge of excess blood alcohol of 94: 100 in Hill Street, Wanganui on 29 July. The legal limit for under 20-year-old drivers is 30:100. Judge Watson told Jones that the level was only just above the legal limit ("probably an extra glass of beer") but that he should discuss the conviction with his commanding officer. Change of plea Lindon Desmond Blake, 29, forestry worker of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a female on 29 July after earlier pleading not guilty. Court heard how Blake had woken up in the morning after being alerted by the children, to find his partner (the complainant) attempting to drive away from the property they shared. He stopped her and when she got out of the car he grabbed her, hit her causing a split lip and swollen cheek before she fell to the ground where he then stomped on her with his bare feet. In remanding Blake to appear for a probation officers report and sentence next month (on 7 December) Judge Watson warned him that it was a serious assault which could result in a jail term. Counsel: Paul Brown. Denies mushroom possession Philip Amand Gerbault, 36, entrepreneur of Otane (Hawkes Bay), pleaded guilty to possession of a Class C drug but not guilty to a charge of possessing a Class A drug in Nei Street, Rangataua on 29 October when. police executed a search warrant. The guilty plea was made in respect of cannabis leaf (Class C) while the not guilty plea referred to the possession of mushrooms containing a proportion of psilocine (Class A). On the guilty plea Gerbault was convicted and fined $150, court costs $95. On the not guilty plea he was remanded on bail to 1 February next year. Above the limit Clayton John Henare, 19, forest worker of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivating cannabis on 1 3 September and to one charge of dri ving with excess breath alcohol (184:1) in Wanganui on 23 December last year. The legal limit for under 20-year-olds is 80:400, while adults only exceed the limit when the reading is over 400. In respect of the cultivating charge the court heard how 18 cannabis seedlings, less than "four inches" in height, had been found growing in a stereo speaker cabinet in a sleep-out at the defendant's address. Henare was convicted and sentenced to 160 hours community service on both charges (to be served concurrently) and disqualified from driving for nine months on the excess breath alcohol charge. Case transferred Garry John Brown, 31, beneficiary of Mangakino, was to have appeared in Court on a charge of stealing cigarettes valued at $1000 from Starline Services in Raetihi on 14 October but, following a request to have the charge heard in a court nearer to his home, the case was transferred to the Tokoroa District Court. Driving attracts attantion Daryn Francis Kahia, 22, bushman of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol (1056:1) on State Highway Four near Raetihi on 1 1 November. Court heard that police had stopped Kahia at about 5.40pm because of his erratic driving. He was remanded to 7 December for sentence. Counsel: Eric Forster Remand without plea Dallas Clayton Elers, 27, mill-hand of Raetihi, was remanded without plea on a charge of assaulting a female to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 December. He was ordered not to enter licensed premises during the remand period. Counsel: Eric Forster Remand to February David Zane Cadwallader, 32, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol of 987:1 on SH4 (Valley Road) on 22 September. He was remanded to appear on 1 February 1996 for a defended hearing. Counsel: Paul Brown. Plea by letter Kerry Herbert Hobbs, 22, driver of Wellington, pleaded not guilty by letter to a charge of failing to ensure a load was secure when driving a truck on SH49 on 25 September. He was remanded to appear for a defended hearing in the Ohakune District Court on 1 February 1996.