OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 8, 24 July 1984, Page 16

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Judge E.W. Unwin heard the following cases in the Ohakune District Court on Thursday 19 July. A charge of entering New Zealand without a permit was withdrawn by the Immigration Department when the court heard Christian Kurt Lehmann, from Rangataua has since left the country. Known locally as "Swiss Chris", the 28-year old architect apparently flew out of New Zealand earlier last week. ★ ★ ★ Denise Cribb, 17, market gardener from Raetihi, was remanded at large until 23 August after pleading not guilty to a charge of stealing a pair of woollen boots, valued at $74, the property of the Sheepskin Shop, Ohakune. * ★ ★ Rene Marcel Bloxham's firs't appearance in court was seen as inevitable, counsel Mr D.G. Harvey told Judge Unwin. Circumstances forced Bloxham, 21, from Raetihi, to live in a 'twilight' situation surrounded by people who did appear in court. Bloxham appeared for sentencing on two charges of receiving property worth a total of $835.00 knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. She had been caught up in a situation over which she had very little control and was guilty simply of going

along with something she had seen a lot of, Mr Harvey told the court. Bloxham's explanation that the property had been left at the house by someone she didn't know, but who claimed to have her de facto husband's permission, was an unlikely story, Judge Unwin said. He issued a final warning to Bloxham to live within her means and within the law if she did not wish to be separated from her one-year-old child. Bloxham was released on 12 months probation and was ordered to pay $100 towards the cost of prosecution. ★ ★ ★ Ivan Wiriana Knowles, 29, d river of Taihape, was convicted on a charge of driving with an excess breath alcohol level. He was fined $475 plus $25 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months and placed on probation for the same period. Knowles had two previous convictions in the past six years for the same offence. He had since taken out a prohibition order and was under voluntary assessment from the Alcohol Assessment Centre in Wanganui. I he court would consider an application for a limited licence in six months time, Judge Unwin told the defendant. ★ ★ ★ What started out as a case of curiosity ended in court

with Peter John Innes, 25, painter of National Park, appearing for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering. Innes had earlier pleaded guilty as charged. On 13 June Innes had over indulged in alcohol, the court heard, and on his way home decided to check the progress of renovations to a house previously known to him. After entering the house Innes had committed an impulsive theft, carrying a heater home with him. The theft was out of character, but Judge Unwin warned the defendant to curb his curiosity in future. " Y ou're not going to get nine lives." Judge Unwin suspended sentence, ordering Innes to come up for sentence if called in the next 1 8 months. He also ordered payment of $175 towards the cost of prosecution. ★ ★ ★ Vivian Jean O'Sullivan, housewife of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to charges of the careless use of a motor vehicle, and driving a vehicle not carrying a current warrant of fitness. When turning into the driveway of the Ohakune Club on April 1 1 , O'Sullivan

hit another vehicle coming out of the club. Damage to O'Sullivan's vehicle was extensive. She was convicted and fined $75, court costs $25 and ordered to resit her licence on the careless driving charge, and convicted and ordered to pay $20 costs on the secortd charge. ★ ★ ★ Tony Anthony John Pikari, 17, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving while disqualified and driving an unregistered vehicle. He was remanded to appear before the court on 23 August. ★ ★ ★ Larine Ngatai, 20, housewife, pleaded guilty to careless use of a vehicle. She drove through a stop sign at Raetihi and collided with another vehicle. Ngatai was fined $80, plus $20 costs, and ordered to resit her licence. ★ ★ ★ In a defended hearing, Colin Barry Phillips, 28, forestry worker, was convicted for the alleged theft of a winch valued at $1,000 from Mr F.S. Stuckey on 1 January. Phillips was remanded to 20 September for a probation report and sentence.