Ohakune District Court

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 7, 15 July 1986, Page 16

Ohakune District Court

The following cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin at a specially convened sitting of the Ohakune District Court last Friday. Sergeant Neil Coker appeared for the police and Traffic Officer lan Harrison appeared forthe Ministryof Transport. ★ ★ ★ Rodney Ceci! Bentley, 30, unemployed of Ohakune, who had earlier appeared on a numberof charges relating to offences dating back two or three years in Christchurch and Greymouth, pleaded guilty to a new charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle (a 1979 Honda Civic valued at $7995) in Auckland on or about 27 March this year. Court heard how this vehicle belonging to his wife was "written-off" following an accident involving another car. In his summing up Judge Unwin said that defendant obviously had had an alco-

hol problem for some time and these offences had been committed "under the influence of alcoholism." He was convicted and sentenced on all charges. On the earlier charges of obtaining goods and services to the value of $700 through the fraudulent use of cheques he was placed under supervision for 12 months on the condition that he take out a prohibition order, place his finances under the direction of a probation officer and repay the $700 restitution within six months or face a five-month prison term in default. On the excess alcohol and other driving offences (heard earlier) he was disqualified for 12 months and ordered to pay $65.50 towards the cost of prosecution. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Carl Francis Perkins, 27, self-emp!oyed musician of Raetihi, whose defended hearing against a charge of burglary was adjourned last month after testimony from eight prosecution witnesses had been heard, last week called two defence witnesses and gave evidence on his own behalf. The charge was that, together with a co-offender who is currently serving a prison term for the offence, defendant broke and entered a dwelling in Ballance Street on or about 3 January this year and stole property, including a 22" television set, a wet suit and flippers, a duvet cover, a lawnmower and toolbox, a toaster and iron, an alarm clock and brief case, a jewellery box and jewellery, several items of clothing and a NZ flag to the total value of $3500. Some of these items were later seen in a former dairy factory opposite the Raetihi police station and were ultimately recovered, damaged, from below the Banana Bridge on the Parapara Road south of Raetihi, by constable Trevor Pullen and detective-

sergeant Colin Sanderson on Sunday 19 January. Under cross-examination defendant said that after working in the market gardens on Friday 3 January he had gone to his parents' home to have tea before 'going to his sister's house in Ballance Street where he spent the evening "talking and watching videos." He denied that he had left the house or had driven his car up town, where it had been alleged he met the cooffender. He denied that he had given his wife any jewellery or had thrown the stolen property over the Banana Bridge on the night that his car was seen in the driveway leading to the former dairy factory shed. Defence witness Thomas Anthony Condon of Raetihi testified that he also spent the evening at defendant's sister's house "talking and watching videos." Both he and defendant had gone to bed in the same room and witness, who claimed to be a light sleeper, was sure that defendant had not left the house that night. Defendant's wife, Denise Georgina Perkins of Te Awamutu, was the third witness called by the defence. She was questioned about the jewellery found in her possession allegedly given to her by the defendant. She explained that she had found it in Seddon Street outside the women's toilet. Witness was warned about committing perjury. In his summing up Judge Unwin received the testimony given by the eight prosecution and three defence witnesses (including defendant himself) and found there was a case to answer. He found the defendant guilty as charged and remanded him on bail of $1000 with two sqreties of a like amount to appear for a probation officer's report and sentence in the Ohakune District Court on 19 August. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★