Ohakune District Court

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 33, 3 February 1987, Page 12

Ohakune District Court

The following cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Seargent Brett Jones appeared for the police and Traffic Officer Ian Harrison for the Ministry of Transport. Adrian Quentin Havard, 20, logger of Masterton pleaded guilty by way of a letter to charges of driving a motor vehicle in a careless manner and failure to wear a seat belt. Both offences occured on 28 September in Clyde and Ayr Streets. Havard was convicted and fined $100 for careless driving and $20 for failure to wear a seat belt. He was also disqualified from driving for 30 days beginning 5 February. ★ ★ ★ Robert Alexander Patterson, 35, self-employed bushman of Raetihi, failed to appear on charges of careless use of a motor vehicle; failing to stop after an accident; failing to ascertain injury. Reparation of around $1000 from an earlier conviction was also due. Judge Unwin issued a bench warrant for Patterson's arrest. ★ * ★ Barry Richards, 22, millhand of Raetihi, appeared on charges of breaking and entering the Waimarino Club in Raetihi with intent to commit a crime. Court heard that the defendant had gained entry through a skylight and had taken alco-

hol and cigarettes to the value of $400. The defendant had not made himself available to his probation officer or lawyer. He was remanded until 26 February with bail of $500 and a surety of a like amount to continue. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Georgina Remahora Pixie Kuri, 33, beneficiary of Raetihi, made a voluntary appearance on warrants for the non-payment of fines. She was remanded until 26 February. Bail was set at $500. ★ ★ ★ Jeremy James Northcote 23, unemployed builder of Auckland, pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining a one day complimentary ski pass from Turoa Ski Fields on 8 October, with the intent to defraud. Judge Unwin expressed the hope that the defendant, a first offender, had learned a valuable lesson by his attempt at "trying to cheat the system." He was ordered to pay $29.70 within 30 days (the cost of the ticket) and in default of payment, 30 days imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $50 towards the cost of prosecution and ordered to come up for sentence within six months, if called. ★ ★ * Gregory Addison, 27, lineman of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally damaging a shirt and jersey, the property of Ray Parr; assaulting Bruce Parr and being in possession of an offensive weapon without reasonable excuse. Addison pleaded guilty to one charge of intentional damage to a window, the property of the Ruapehu Hotel. He was remanded until 26 February. Bail was set to $500 with a surety of a like amount and he was ordered to report on a weekly basis to Raetihi Police. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Neville John Bing, engineer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to failing to furnish a tax return for the year ending April 1984.

Counsel submitted that Bing had previously experienced problems with his finances but professional help had been sought and the returns would be forthcoming. He was convicted and fined $75, court costs $16.50. ★ ★ ★ Aaron Tremain Prior Horne, 19, shearer of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of driving a motor vehicle while disqualified on 23 January. Court heard how defendant had committed a number of other offences in 1986, including a reckless driving charge in May, offences in July and September, and 1 December when he gained unlawful entry to the Wrightson Dalgety building in Raetihi by climbing onto the roof and forcing a skylight. He was gathering items from the shop when he was disturbed. On the same day he drove a vehicle while disqualified, to get help after an accident. He also faced a charge of receiving stolen money to the value of $1 134. Counsel submitted that defendant was under the influence of alcohol on all but one occasion and suggested that he receive help. Judge Unwin said the defendant had made no real attempt to face his responsibilities and showed a "cynical disregard" to what was going on in light of his previous convictions. "He has made promises of repayment but no payments have been forthcoming." Judge Unwin said it was distressing to hear that at 19 years the defendant had an alcohol problem. He was sentenced to a period of corrective training and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Hamish Philip Henderson, 20, shearer of Raetihi, appeared on one charge of intentional damage to a motor vehicle in Raetihi on 23 December. Court heard how he slashed a new tyre valued at $1 14, on a car belonging to the complainant, Henderson's former employer. He told the court he had done it

because he hated the complainant. Counsel maintained that Henderson was in an intoxicated state at the time. Judge Unwin told the defendant that it was a "sad reflection" that he was appearing again after appearing last October on a charge of theft of $2907 from his employer's car. Reparation of $1164 (his share of the money) is due by February. He was sentenced to a term of 42 days imprison-

ment. Counsel:

D. G.

Harvey.

★ ★ ★ Sony Chan, 40, market gardener of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving at a speed so as to be unable to stop in visible lane length. Counsel submitted that it was "an almost unfair charge whereby Mr Chan was confronted with a dreadful situation where there was nothing he could do." He was convicted and fined $150, court costs $16.50. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Angeline Rapana, 28, clerical trainee of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to careless use of a motor vehicle causing bodily injury. Court heard how the defendant had been driving a vehicle with two passengers on State Highway 49, north of Waiouru when she lost control and the vehicle left the road. One of her passengers received a fractured skull while Rapana received minor injuries. She was convicted and fined $325 and disqualified from driving for six months. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ A case of theft of a motor vehicle against Kevin Michael Bowring, 24, freezing worker of Taumarunui, was dismissed after a defended hearing. In his own defence, Bowring told the court that he had been sold the Austin Gypsy by a man he had met at the Ohakune Hotel in April. Bowring said the man had shown him the vehicle that had been parked in front of a "deserted-looking" house at the Ohakune Junction. The car had been parked with the keys in it and left unlocked. Bowring said he gave the man only part of the asking price and was told he would be given the ownership papers once he had paid the difference. Bowring was given a receipt for his transaction, signed by the man. Continued on Page 13

Continued from Page 12 Bowring was to meet him at the Ohakune Hotel a few days latertofinalisethedeal but said he could not locate the man. Bowring said he wanted the vehicle's chassis as he had another Austin Gypsy he was using as parts. Bowring said he took the single registration plate off the vehicle because he thought he would be "picked up" for having inadequate registration and maintained

that the vehicle was to be used solely to catch goats on farmland. Judge Unwin told Bowring that the evidence he had given was "consistant as much with guilt as it was with innocence," and gave Bowring the benefit of the doubt. Bowring was convicted of the theft of wheels and tyres of a vehicle abandoned on a farm at Ohura. He was convicted and fined $200 and $50 towards the cost of prosecution.