OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 664, 26 November 1996, Page 11

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Barry Lovegrove in the Ohakune District Court on Thursday 14 November. Seniorsergeant Ross Bielby of Ohakune appeared for the police prosecution. Protection order breached John Harold La Roche, 5 1 , sickness beneficiary of Palmerston North or Wanganui, appeared on two charges in the Ohakune District Court last week of following a protected person in Ohakune where a protection order was in force. The first offence was alleged to have occurred on 14 November and the second eight days later. Before his next appearance several conditions were imposed: he is not to enter within a 1 0km radius of Ohakune unless for the purpose of visiting legal counsel; when visiting counsel police must be advised about the proposed visit; not to enter with a 500m radius of the Ohakune Primary School; not to contact complainant or any of her family during the remand period; to observe a curfew at a nominated address; to report daily to the Ohakune Police Station prior to his intended relocation to the nominated address (either in Wanganui or Palmerston North) no later than 1 8 November; that he attend for a psychiatric interview for the purpose of obtaining a report on which a judgement can be made. Remanded for defended hearing Keith Ellery, 33, labourer of Ohakune, was remanded for a defended hearing on 24 January after pleading not guilty to a charge of assaulting a female on 13 October. He had been remanded without plea when he appeared last month. Exceeds driving time limit Murray Taylor, 21, driver of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a heavy truck and trailer unit in excess of five-and-a-half hours without taking a halfhour break though he had stopped for 20 minutes at a takeaways shop. He was in-

volved in a non-injury accident when he lost control on a wet, greasy road at 2am on 12 April near TeKuiti. In convicting and fining Taylor $200, court costs $95 and disqualifying his heavy truck licence for one month, Judge Lovegrove said that tired heavy vehicle dri vers were a potential danger on our roads. Counsel: Eric Forster. Driving charges Douglas Ralph Diamond, 36, driver of Wellington, pleaded guilty to charges of driving while disqualified and failing to provide details to a police officer but not guilty to a charge of driving with a breath alcohol level of 496: 1 on SH4 on 28 October. He was remanded to 19 December for a date to be set for a defended hearing on the not guilty plea and for sentence on the two guilty pleas. Counsel: Paul Brown. Remanded for full report George Ashford Pekamu, 29, unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded for a full pre-sentence report after vacating a plea of not guilty and changing his plea to guilty on a charge of receiving a pair of Adidas scuffs valued at $35 on 1 1 October. Court heard that the scuffs, which had been stolen from Ohakune Shoes, had been hidden under Pekamu' s jacket after they were seen to be given to him by a third person. In calling for a full probation officers report and sentence Judge Lovegrove said that something must be done to find out the reasons for Pekamu's persistent offending. He was remanded to 19 December. Counsel: Eric Forster. Warrants for arrest O Julian Alexander Patrick Taylor, 29, gardener of Ohakune, was to have appeared on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol but, when he failed to appear a warrant for arrest was issued. □ Tama Paulo, 21, garden-hand formerly of Ohakune, was to have appeared for a review of sentence but, when he failed to appear a warrant for arrest was issued.