Ohakune District Court

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, 28 July 1987, Page 18

Ohakune District Court

The following cases were heard by Judge E.W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Neil Coker and Traffic Officer Ian Harrison appeared for the prosecution. ★ ★★ Bryan Erueti Albert, 21, market gardener of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. Court heard how defendant, who had been at the local hotel with other members of his family, had returned home before them only to find he had no keys to get in. Instead of returning to the hotel he decided to get into a car parked nearby and wait for the others. He fell asleep in the car and was found there by police. He denied breaking the car's rear window claiming that it was already broken but he admitted that he had removed some tapes from the vehicle. These he had thrown out but he returned them to the police next day. He was convicted and fined $125, court costs $55, ordered to make reparation of $100 and disqualified from driving for 30 days. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Phillipa Elers, 22, shed hand of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting premises to be used for the commission of a crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Court heard how defendant knew that her 'boyfriend' was growing 24 cannabis plants in her house (see elsewhere on this page). However, she was, because of the relationship and the fact that she was seven mcnth's pregnant, reluctant to oppose or report the situation. She was convicted and fined $200, court costs $55. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Charmaine Larisha Green, 25, solo parent of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to two charges: permitting premises to be used for the commission of a crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act; possession of instru-

ments for the purpose of committing an offence under the above Act. She was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a defended hearing. ★ ★★ Adam Haitana, 20, shearer of Raetihi, made two appearances in Court, one in the morning and one in the aftemoon. In the morning he pleaded guilty to one charge of breaking and enterin'g a building (the Raetihi Post Office) on 18 June and to one charge of taking a motor vehicle (a Holden Belmont valued at $2000) in Wanganui on 18 April. Nothing was taken in the Post Office burglary but the car was extensively damaged in an accident. On these charges he was convicted and remanded on bail of $500 with a surety of a like amount to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August for a probation officer's report and sentence and a reparation report. In the aftemoon he reappeared on three additional charges following further police enquiries. He pleaded guilty to one -charge of breaking and entering Todd's Tasty Takeaways in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on 19 May. A stereo and microwave oven were taken. He pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a dwelling house in Thatcher Street, Wanganui, from which a video recorder and other property to the value of $2335 were taken on 20 May. He pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the premises of Robin's Nest in Seddon Street, Raetihi on 20 June. Merchandise to the total value of $5932 was taken. Reparation totalling $7400 was sought by police. He was again convicted and remanded on additional bail of $500 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August for a probation officer's report and sentence and reparation report. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Garth Hiroti, 22, unemployed of Raetihi, was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August on a charge of

possession of cannabis. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Vernon Leslie McLeod, 18, works scheme trainee of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving an industrial glass-cutter from an associate who had stolen it from Home Bros to repair a window at defendant's home on 1 July. When questioned by police the glass-cutter was found in defendant's pocket. In imposing a 6-month suspended sentence and ordering defendant to pay $75 towards the cost of prosecution, Judge Unwin advised him to choose his friends more carefully. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Duncan Vincent Metekingi, 34, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of acquiring control of a restricted pesticide in contravention of the Pesticide Regulations 1983 R.28 (19) (b). He was remanded on bail of $500 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a defended hearing. ★ ★★ Hillary Pirihita Metekingi, 30, housewife of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to charge of possession of cannabis. She was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a defended hearing. Counsel: P. Brown. George Ashford Pekamu, 19, works scheme trainee of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of an industrial glass-cutter from Home Bros in Old Station Road, Ohakune. Court was told that defendant, with an associate, called in to Home Bros to collect some glass to repair a window. Defendant had impulsively picked up the glass-cutter and put it in his pocket. He later gave the glass-cutter to an associate. He was convicted and sentenced to 3 months non-residential periodic detention to be served concurrently with his present sentence which has the effect of extending the term of periodic detention to 25

October. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Peter Arthur Phillips, 23, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to three charges: possession of cannabis; obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty; receiving. He was remanded on existing bail terms to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a defended hearing. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ William Peter Pikari, 24, scrub cutter of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of using insulting words in a public place (Seddon Street, Raetihi) on 12 June. He was remanded on bail of $400 to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a defended hearing. ★ ★★ Amber Lamer Powhare, 20, solo parent of Wanganui, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis. She was remanded at large to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August for a probation officer's report and sentence. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Barry Richards, 19, trainee musician of Raetihi, appeared for a defended hearing on a not guilty plea to a charge of receiving a JVC cassette stereo valued at $600 on 23 March. However, because his alleged co-offender had not yet come to trial in the Otahuhu District Court the case was adjourned for one month to check on the progress of legal proceedings in the Otahuhu Court. He was remanded by consent to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ James Jason Taiaroa, 17, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the Whakangahau Trust premises on 4 June to commit a crime therein. Court heard how a sewing machine, a typewriter and a radio cassette recorder were stolen during the burglary which was committed with a co-offender. Defendant was convicted and remanded on bail of $500 with a surety of a like amount to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August for a probation officer's report and sentence. The remand on bail was subject to two conditions: that he reside with his mother and that he observes a curfew from 7pm to 7am each day. ★ ★★ Kevin Manu Taura, 33, shepherd of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving and to one charge of failing to stop at the signal of a police constable on the night of 7 June. Court heard how defendant had driven off at high speed when requested to stop by police loud-hailer at the junction of SH4 and Seddon Street, Raetihi. He cont'd on p. 21

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT CONT'D

cont'd from p. 18 was followed by the police car with siren and flashing blue lights for about lOkms down the Parapara Road before turning off the highway, switching off his lights and travelling for 400 metres in the dark in an attempt to shake off the pursuing police car. In convicting and fining defendant $250 and imposing a 6-month period of disqualification, Judge Unwin said that he was surprised that a mature man with apparently nothing to hide (from the police) should have acted in this way. "Maybe you had a guilty conscience about something but had you stopped when requested to do so by police you wouldn't be appearing in Court today to face these two charges." An order for court costs of $55 was made on each charge. ★ ★★ Robin Taura, 18, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary. These included: Todd's Tasty Takeaways from which a swandri and microwave oven was taken on

19 May; a dwelling house in Thatcher Street, Wanganui, from which a video recorder was taken on 20 May; the Raetihi Borough Council chambers from which property valued at $170 was taken on 3 June; and the Whakangahau Trust building in Raetihi from which a sewing machine and typewriter were taken on 4 June. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on 3 August for a probation officer's report and sentence and reparation report. ★ ★★ Raphael Meterei Tinirau, 24, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivat-' ing cannabis (24 plants), one charge of possession of cannabis and one charge of possessing instruments intended for the commission of a crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was convicted and remanded on existing bail terms to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 27 August for a probation officer's report and sentence. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★

Robert James Ward, 22, NZ Army trooper of Waiouru, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving. Court heard how defendant had forced another car off the road when he failed to complete an overtaking manoeuvre in time to avoid a head-on collision had the other car not taken evasive action. The incident occurred at night on SH1 while defendant was travelling north between Utiku and T aihape. In convicting and fining defendant $300, court costs $55 Judge Unwin said that it was "obviously an error of judgement from which defendant had probably learnt a valuable lesson." Counsel: D.G. Harvey. ★★★ A case which was to have been heard between the Department of Labour and Winstone Pulp Industries Ltd charging a breach of the Machinery Act (1950) was adjoumed by consent for one month. Counsel for the Labour Department: D.G. Harvey. Counsel for Winstone Pulp Industries Ltd: P. jBrown.