Ohakune District Court

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 27, 26 November 1985, Page 15

Ohakune District Court

The following cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Neil Coker appeared for the prosecution. Traffic officer Ian Harrison appeared for the Ministry of Transport. ★ ★ ★ Dennis Mason Bishop, 17, labourer of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of disorderly behaviour committed in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, on 7 September. He had been remanded from the previous court hearing in October to attend an alcohol assessment centre. In sentencing Bishop to 40 hours of community work his Honour commented on the defendant's "bizarre behaviour" as a result of

alcohol. Counsel:

D. G.

Harvey.

★ ★ ★ Darrell Shaun McLeod, 22, unemployed market gardener of Karioi, appeared for sentence on a total of 73 charges including one of dangerous driving, four of driving while disqualified and 68 involving false pretences and obtaining credit by fraud. Defendant had acquired a total liability of "something over $7000." In sentencing defendant his Honour said that, though McLeod had had 14 previous convictions of driving while disqualified, he had been given plenty of opportunities to live as a law-abiding member of the public by not having had a custodial sentence imposed for these earlier offences. Defendant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment on each category of charge as follows: six months for dangerous driving, 12 months for false pretences and 18 months on the driving while disqualified charges. The sentences to be served concurrently. He was also disqualified from driving for two years. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Robert Daniel Edmonds, 18, shearer of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of unlawfully taking a 1982 Ford Falcon utility valued $18,750 which was

later involved in an accident resulting in $4000 damage to the vehicle. Defendant was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to make reparation of $40 per week or as amended by the probation officer under whose direction defendant was to place his finances. He was disqualified from driving for six months. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Douglas Andrew McLean, 58, foreman of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of excess breath alcohol while driving a vehicle in Taumarunui on 1 5 March this year. He was convicted and fined $500, court costs $35 and ordered to pay $40 medical expenses and $32 analyst's fees. He was disqualified from driving or holding a licence for 12 months. ★ ★ ★ Josephine Tuhura, 19, beneficiary of Rangataua, appeared on a charge of shoplifting a Bendon sweattop valued at $20 from Bucks Drapery in Ohakune. She pleaded not guilty. After a defended hearing during which three prosecution witnesses were heard, his Honour said he was convinced that the garment found by Constable Greg Whyte in defendant's home matched the torn-out labels found in Buck's changing room after it had been vacated by defendant. His Honour, commenting on the fact that this was her first conviction in a district court, ruled that the defendant should come up for sentence if she offends again within 12 months and that she should pay witness expenses of $75. An order was made for the confiscation of the garment. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Raymond Arthur Entwisle, 22, millhand of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of having in his possession a Class C drug, cannabis, on 6 October. He also appeared on a charge of causing bodily injury to Martin Thomas Gray by carelessly using a motor vehicle on the Parapara Road on 6 October. Defendant's vehicle was in collision with Mr Gray's vehicle, valued at $29,000,

which had been travelling in the opposite direction. Both vehicles were written off. Defendant was remanded on bail of $500 to appear on 19 December for a probation report and sentence. His Honour said he wanted to ascertain if defendant might have an inherent drug problem. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ William Peter Pikari, 23, unemployed labourer of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of assault on a female in Wanganui on 6 November. Defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded for a defended hearing to 5 February on his own bail of $500 and two sureties of a like amount. ★ ★ ★ Steven Phillip Ennis, 19, carpenter of Ohakune, appeared on a charge of driving while having excess breath alcohol over the legal limit in Goldfiiich Street on 13 September. He pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined $300, court costs $35 and disqualified from driving for six months. ★ ★ ★ Walter John Maihi, labourer of Ohakune, was remanded to appear on 19 December on a charge of failing to comply with conditions of bail. Present bail to continue. ★ ★ ★ Lance Tuterangi Whiu, 25, railway shunter and Wayne Farrell Pera Ripikoi, 27, railway shunter, both of Ohakune, appeared on charges of theft as a servant. In a defended hearing they denied the charges of stealing two wheel assemblies valued at $1250 from two station wagons being freighted through the railyards at Ohakue Junction earlier this year. The prosecution called five witnesses but defence counsel, Mr D. G. Harvey, argued that there was no case to answer as the two wheel assemblies, which had been removed from the vehicles in transit and placed in a railway shed beside the track from where they had been recovered by police a short time later, had not been removed from the railyards which were part of NZ Railways property. However prosecution counsel, police-sergeant Neil Coker, argued that a charge of theft could be sustained if the intention could be proved. In his summing up Judge Unwin said he concurred with the latter definition of

theft but, whilst he entertained a very strong suspicion of the defendants' intentions, he could not be absolutely sure. Therefore "since no-one in this court is going to be convicted on suspicion" the charges were dismissed. ★ ★ ★ Avril Tewhiwia Katene, 33, road surfaceman of Ohakune, was remanded to 12 and. 13 December for a depositions hearing at the Ohakune District Court on a charge of manslaughter committed on or about 10 May 1985. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ A plea of not guilty was entered in a domesticallyrelated incident involving assault. The defendant, who was granted interim suppression of name at the request of his counsel, Mr D. G. Harvey, was remanded on a bond of $500 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 February next year.