OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 41, 31 March 1987, Page 13

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Sergeant Neil Coker of Ohakune appeared for the police and Traffic Officers Bruce Carr of Turangi, Colin Abbotts of Paraparaumu and Ian Harrison of Ohakune appeared for the Ministry of Transport. ★ ★ ★ Phillip Henry Bowring, unemployed labourer of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a 1971 Holden utility valued at $4500 in May 1985 to which he had earlier pleaded guilty and was convicted at last month's hearing. He was sentenced to make reparation of $500 for his share in the offence and ordered to make payments of $ 1 0 per week or be served with a warrant for committal to a 90-day term of imprisonment. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Stephen Charles Campbell, 1 8, soldier of Waiouru, was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May on a charge of making a false statement to police on 3 March. Bail was set at $500. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Robert Wayne Cribb, 33, sheeter of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving With excess breath alcohol in Seddon Street Raetihi on 1 6 December 1 986 and to one charge of failing to keep left of the centre line on the same date and at the same place. In convicting and sentencing defendant to a fine of $325, court costs $38.50 and disqualifying him for six months, Judge Unwin said that it was probably due to the fact that defendant's motor vehicle was double parked facing the wrong way that first drew the attention of the police to the offence. ★ ★ ★ Judith May Habgood, 18, unemployed of no fixed address, was to have appeared on a charge of stealing an engagement ring valued at $800 on 9 March. Failing her appearance in court a warrant for arrest was issued. ★ ★ * Jason Myles Hern, 18, market gardener of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of burglary from Waimarino Wines on 13 April 1986, to which he had earlier pleaded guilty and was convicted at last month's hearing. He was ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon.

In ordering defendant to make reparation of $224 at the rate of $40 per fortnight for his share in the offence, Judge Unwin warned defendant to be "careful, if not wary, of those with whom you associate in future". Defendant was ordered to pay $ 1 25 towards the cost of prosecution. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Gerard Michael Hipango, 29, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared on three charges of false pretences and two charges of taking documents. Reparation of $218 was sought for the damage and reparation to the ignition system of that vehicle. Court heard how defendant had rendered himself liable to a large amount of debt ($853) involving the three vehicles. Following an 'eloquent' speech on behalf of defendant by his father, defendant was given a 12-month suspended sentence subject to the condition that he lives and works as directed. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to make reparation of $853 at the rate of $ 1 0 per week or face a 90-day term of imprisonment. ★ ★ ★ Adam Dennis Perkins, 18, unemployed labourer of Raetihi, was remanded without plea on bail of $500 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May to answer a charge of assaulting Terry James Martin on or about 14 March. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ Barry Richards, 23, trainee musician of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to receiving a JVC radio cassette stereo valued at $600 on 23 March knowing it to have been stolen or dishonestly obtained. He was remanded on bail of $500 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May for a defended hearing. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★ ★ Graham Alan Snowball, 27, farmhand of Raetihi, was to have appeared for a defended hearing on a charge of addressing obscene words in Maungaeturoa South Road in Raetihi on 20 November last year. However, when the charge was amended from 'addressing' to 'using' obscene words (a lesser charge), defendant changed his plea to guilty. He was given a 6-month suspended • sentence and ordered to pay $1 00 towards the cost of prosecution. Judge Unwin commented that this was obviously a case of breakdown in communication between com-

plainant and defendant which had stirred up resentment ... "there are surely more worthwhile things in life than to get involved in this sort of behaviour." ★ ★ ★ Raymond James Tanner, 28, unemployed of Manurewa, Auckland, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place, namely the southbound Northerner train, in the early hours of 26 March. Court heard how defendant had been arrested by police at Ohakune after a complaint had been laid at Taumarunui. He was convicted and fined $200, court costs $38.50, and ordered to pay the fine within 30 days or face a term of 2 1 days imprisonment. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. ★ ★ ★ These offences, to which defendant pleaded guilty, were committed in November 1985 and were said to have netted defendant a total of $1060. He was convicted on all charges and remanded on bail of $750 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May for a probation officer's report and sentence. ★ ★ ★ Phillip Gerry Hiroti, 29, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening language in Duncan Street, Raetihi, on 9 March 1987. He was remanded on bail of $500 to appear for a defended hearing in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May. ★ ★ ★ Scottie Kairimu, 61, farmhand of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of having supplied a firearm — a .22 calibre rifle — to an unlicensed person, namely Aaron Tremain Prior Horne on 24 May 1986. Court heard how defendant, when approached by Horne saying that he would rather shoot possums than spend the evening drinking, had agreed to Horne borrowing the rifle thinking, as was claimed, that he was a licensed firearms holder. As a result of this unauthorised borrowing court

heard how Horne's brother had been accidentally shot that same evening and had lost the sight of an eye. In passing sentence Judge Unwin said that the actions of defendant must serve as an example to others. "The sentence must be seen as a deterrent to all citizens who own firearms to ensure that the responsibility lies with the holder of the firearms licence." Defendant was convicted and fined $250, court costs $38.50. ★ ★ * Gail Joan Morrison, 25, teacher of Auckland, was to have appeared on a defended charge of careless driving. Failing her appearance and after an explanation by her legal counsel, she was remanded to appear for a defended hearing in the Ohakune District Court on 28 May. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. * ★ ★ Paul Moken Fredric Naden, 17, sickness beneficiary of Waiouru, had earlier pleaded guilty in the

Taihape District Court to three charges involving motor vehicles and to one charge of making a false statement to police. In the most recent incident defendant was charged with having .attempted to start a Datsun motor vehicle valued at $6000 belonging to Margaret Cross on 1 March 1987.

A college student who was granted interim suppression of name was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 7 May on a defended charge of using insulting words on 23 February 1987. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of $300. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ * ★