OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 18, 29 September 1987, Page 14

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge E.W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Detective Sergeant Harry Mallalieu of Taihape appeared for the police prosecution and Traffic Officer Ian Harrison of Ohakune appeared for the Ministry of Transport. ★★★ Denis Mason Peihopa Bishop, 19, carving student of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place (Goldfinch Street, Oha-

kune) on the night of 18 September. Court heard how defendant, who had been drinking at the Ohakune Hotel since about 5.30pm, had followed the complainant - a young woman - as she was returning to her home in Goldfinch Street. As complainant became increasingly alarmed at being followed she quickened her pace and finally broke into a run as she reached her home with the defendant close behind her. On reaching her home two of her friends confronted the defendant to demand an explanation but were told by defendant that he had a knife. The police were called and when defendant was later interviewed at his home he explained the 'knife' was in fact his asthma atomiser, and said that he had chased complainant "for fun". In convicting defendant and imposing a fine of $200, court costs $55, Judge Unwin said that people had every right to walk in a public place without being threatened or molested and complainant was justified in thinking defendant's motives had been "sinister". The fine was to be paid immediately or defendant would face 10 days imprisonment in default.

Counsel:

P.

Brown.

★★★ Michael Robert Cudd, 22, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on three charges: possession of Cannabis seed; possession of utensils for the Commission of a Crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act; and theft of a telephone being the property of NZ Telecom. He was sentenced to the maximum of 200 hours of community work and, because this was not his first drugs-related offence, he was given a 'final warning'. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. ★ ★★ Mikara Rex Edwards, 18, apprentice carpenter of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving on SH49 on 4 July. Court heard how defendant had been driving on the Ohakune-Raetihi Road at speeds of up to 130 km/h, crossing to the wrong side of the road and failing to keep left on three 'blind' corners.

Defendant, a local resident who represented himself, explained that he knew the road well and, at night, would have seen the lights of any approaching cars on what had been described as 'blind' corners. Judge Unwin pointed out that wandering cattle and pedestrians may not have had lights. Defendant was convicted and fined $225, court costs $55 and disqualified from driving for 6 months. ★** Adam Dominick Stephan Haitana, 20, presser of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on four burglary charges (Raetihi Post Office, Robin's Nest, Todd's Tasty Takeaways and a private residence in Raetihi) and one charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. All charges related to incidents earlier this year to which defendant had pleaded guilty. Court heard how a total of $8,000 reparation was outstanding including $5,000 to Robin's Nest to which defendant had gained access by abusing family trust. Despite legal counsel's assurance that defendant would be able to make reparation for this amount Judge Unwin felt that $8,000 was out of the question and beyond the means of defendant. "The best way to rehabilitate defendant - who had been given every advantage and opportunity in his upbringing - was to learn that crime does not pay" said Judge Unwin as he imposed a sentence of 9 months imprisonment. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Hamish Philip Henderson, 20, shearer of Pipiriki, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering a building (Wrightson-Dalgety in Seddon Street, Raetihi) on 28 August. Court heard how defendant had triggered a silent alarm when he entered the building through the skylight. When police arrived he was found on the roof and explained that he'd been trying to get a pair of working boots for a job he was starting next day. He was convicted and remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 22 October for a probation officer's report and sentence. Counsel: P. Brown.

★ ★★ Krishane Hiroti, 21, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of entering licensed premises on 11 June having been banned earlier and to one charge of refusing to leave licensed premises when ordered to do so. Defendant, who was not represented by legal counsel, said that he had originally gone into the Ruapehu Hotel in Raetihi to get a lift home from a mate and he had refused to leave because he thought the banning order had expired. In convicting and fining defendant $100, court costs $55, Judge Unwin warned him that if the hotel proprietor decided to close the public bar because people couldn't "behave like human beings", they would only have themselves to blame.

Dennis Murray Honatana, 31, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of petrol valued at $10 from Sue Bros in Karioi on or about 9 August. Court heard how defendant had removed the petrol from a tractor at night in order to fill up the tank of his vehicle so that he could get home to Raetihi. He was convicted and fined $75, court costs $55 and ordered to make reparation of $10 to Sue Bros within 30 days or face a 7-day term of imprisonment in default. A 30-day period of disqualification was imposed. ★ ★★ Emmanuel Howe, 23, unemployed forest worker of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on three charges to which he had earlier been found guilty at previous Court hearings. These included theft, receiving and assault. On the assault charge which occurred outside the Ohakune Hotel on 6 August when defendant kicked complainant while he was on the ground, Judge Unwin said the attack was "vicious" and "lacked any rhyme or reason". "The public must be protected from such thuggery". Defendant was convicted and sentenced to 90 days imprisonment. Counsel: P. Brown. ★ ★★ Ricky John McLeod, was to have appeared for a defended hearing on a charge of failing to leave licensed premises and intentionally obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duties but he changed his pleas to guilty when he appeared in Court last week. Court heard how defendant had been with a group of associates in the Ruapehu Hotel in Raetihi on 4 June when a fracas had broken out between defendant's group and another in the hotel. Defendant said that he had not been part of this fracas and when the others in his group were told to leave, first by the hotel manager and then a police constable, he had not thought the order applied to him because he had been standing beside the jukebox during the confrontation. In convicting and fining defendant $150, court costs $55, Judge Unwin said that if the proprietor decided to close down the hotel's public bar because some people had not yet "learned how to behave like human beings", they would only have themselves to blame.

Counsel:

D.G.

Harvey.

★★★ George Ashford Pekamu, 20, unemployed gardener of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on one charge of assault and one charge of causing intentional damage to a police vehicle. Court heard how defendant had been appearing regularly in Court over the past three years and how this appearance (last week) was his fifth this year. On the charge of wilfully damaging a police vehicle Court heard how defendant's associates had told him (after they had been evicted from the Ruapehu