OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 636, 14 May 1996, Page 7

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The followng cases were heard in the Ohakune District Court on Thursday 2 May (report continued from last week's Bulletin ): Warrant for arrest William Peter Pikari, 33, orderly of Otahuhu, was to have appeared on charges of driving with excess breath alcohol (852: 1 ) and dangerous driving on the Ohakune/ Raetihi Road on 13 October last year. Following his failure to appear a warrant for arrest was issued. Two not guilty pleas Patrick Thomas Butler, 27, unemployed of Ranana, pleaded not guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle and to a charge of driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 773:1 on SH4 on 29 February. He was remanded to a nominal date of 30 May in order to set a date for the hearing and a pre-trial conference to be fixed. At the request of his counsel, Eric Forster, defendant was excused from appearing personally in Court on 30 May (because of distance and travel difficulties providing he was represented in Court by counsel. Intentional damage charge John Charles Russell, 38, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional damage by punching out a window (valued at $40) at the Powderkeg Inn on 13 April. Referring to an earlier charge of causing intentional damage, Russell was told that he was going to have to stop expressing himself in that way and warned that any further offences of this nature would result in a more "serious penalty". He was convicted and fined $150, court costs $95, and ordered to make reparation of $40 to the Powderkeg Inn. Blood alcohol excess Dean Richards, 22, bushman of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with a blood alcohol level of 1 1 3: 100 in Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui, on 14 December last year. He was convicted and fined $500, court costs $95, and disqualified from driving for six months. Judge Lovegrove noted that this was defendant' s first driving offence.