In custody for community protection

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 255, 20 September 1988, Page 7

In custody for community protection

The following local cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Russell England of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution and Traffic Officer Dave Dowsett of Turangi appeared for the Ministry of Transport. Breaking & entering Peter Richard Biddlc, 18, access scheme labourer of Taihape, appeared to face a charge of breaking and entering Hannahs Shoe Store in Taihape on September 12. Defendant pleadcd not guilty. Court heard how this alleged offence took

place on the very same day that defendant had appeared in the Taihape District Court on other charges including two involving burglary and two involving breaches of periodic detention. Defendant was already on bail at the time. For these reasons police opposed further bail being granted and defendant was remanded in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on September 23. In refusing bail Judge Unwin said that the community needed to be protected. Counsel: P. Brown. Insecure load David Bratina, 24, shop assistant o f Waiouru, pleaded guilty

to a charge of failing to ensure a load was adeqilatcly secured while driving with a load of vegetables on SH49 at Rangau u i or Junc 8. Court heard how defendant had been to Ohakune to collect a load of bagged vegetables and, because he was running latc, he failed to securc the bags with ropcs on his flat-top truck as he was rctuming to Waiouru. He was convicted and fined $135, court costs $65. Counsel: P. Brown. Fertilizer theft Jason Collett, 17, ski mechanic of Ohakune, Turn page 10

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Driving charges, snow fraud, false statement

From page 7 pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing plant fertilizer valued at $60 from Kunikraft in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, on August 13, after he had bcen drinking. Court heard how defendant has sincc made full reparation a n d apologised to the owners of Kunikraft. He was convicted and fined $100. Counsel: P. Brown. Excess alcohol James Manual Honana, 23, labourer of Ohakune, appeared for scntence on chargcs of excess blood alcohol and careless use of a motor vehiclc to which he had earlier pleaded guilty when he appeared in ihe Ohakune District Court on August 5. Court had heard how dcfendant had rolled his vehicle in Mangawhero Terrace in Ohakune on July 7. He was sentenced to 12 months supcrvision on both charges and disqualified from driving or holding a driving liccncc for 12 months. He was also ordercd to pay medical fccs of $90 and DSIR fees of $54. Cannabis Marc Callum Kecsing, 18, chef of Ohakune, was remanded on bail without plca to face

one charge of possession of cannabis and one charge of possession of three pipes for the commission of an offencc under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The chargcs arosc out of a search warrant being executed o n Scptembcr 14 (the day bcfore last wcck's Court sitting). Defcndant was ordered to appear in the Ohakune District Court on October 12 for the taking of a plea and the hearing of evidence. Counsel: P. Brown. Car theft Darrell Shaun McLcod, 25, garden-hand o f Raetihi, appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a Ford Falcon valued at $3500 to which he had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing of the Ohakune District Court. On another charge, that of having possession of a firearm, Judge Unwin said that after hearing an explanation of how the .303 rifle came to be in defendant's possession, he was satisfied there was no sinistcr intent. On the charge of theft of a motor vehicle which involved a "complicated series of transactions", dcfendant was ordered to make reparation of $3500 (already paid) and to undertake a 12-month

period of supervision' during which he was told that he must place the control of his finances with his probation officer if required. He was also ordered to pay $400 towards the cost of prosecution. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Careless use Steven Wayne Mott, 18, busbman o f Ohakune, pleaded guilty by letter to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle in Ohakune on July 21. Court heard how defendant, while making a tum out of Goldfinch Street, had seen and waved to a pedestrian he recognised. This friendly gesture had resulted in defendant's car colliding with another vehicle. Dcfendant was convicted and f-ined $150, court costs $65. Snow fraud Scott C 1 i f f o r d Pannesta, 19, saies assistant of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of intending to defraud Turoa Skifields of the cost of a $ 3 9 full-day chairlift pass in ordcr to obtain free access to the skifield by false pretences. Court heard how defendant, wearing a Turoa staff jersey had told the chairlift opera-

tor that he was using the chairlift in order to report for work for Spotless Catering on the skifield where he was employed. He explained that the snowboard he was carrying was to enable him to return from the skifield restaurant at the end of the day. The chairlift operator was not convinced and became suspicious. He asked other skifield staff to observe defendant who, instead of reporting for duty at the restaurant, proceeded to use his snowboard. Defence counsel explained that defcndant, who was entitled to a 50 per cent concession on the chairlift on his days off because he was an employee of Spotless Catering, was being made an example of because many others were getting away with not paying for the use of the skifield facilities. Court heard how other offenders who had been caught had had to shovel snow for three days to avoid prosecution. Dcfendant was convicted and discharged but he was ordered to pay $100 towards the Waimarino Rescue-He-

licopter Trust. Counsel: P. Brown. Vegetables Graham David Pearce, 20, self-employed contractor of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing vegetables from Keith Cranston on June 2. Court heard how defendant had taken two bags of vegetables valued at $6.10 from a roadside stall without paying at the time but with the intention of returning and putting the required amount in the honesty box at a later stage. However, 28 days later, when he was spoken to by police, he had still not made payment. In convicting and fining defendant $100, court costs $65, Judge Unwin said it had been an abuse of trust and defendant must be "totally embarrassed" by the incident. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Adjourned Edward Craig Pickery, student of Ohakune, was to have appeared on one charge of driving a motor vehicle on Ayr Street, Ohakune, on May 29, when he had had no driving licence of any kind and also on one charge of driving a motor cycle

on the same date and occasion while not wearing a safety helmet. The case was adjourned to October 12 at the Ohakune District Court for the presentation of formal proof. Car conversion Tewhakawhiti Raharuhi, 25, solo parent of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one charge of converting a motor vehicle valued at $2000, and to one charge of stealing tools valued at $200. Court heard how defendant had taken a Vauxhall Viva belonging to Neville John Brig at Raetihi on August 2 by "hot-wiring" the vehicle. When the car stalled on SH49 on the way to Ohakune, defendant had taken the set of tools. Defendant was remanded on bail to appear in the Dannevirke District Court on October 17 for a reparation report and probation officer's report and sentence. Careless use Ronald Gordon Remnant, 41, contractor of Tauranga pleaded guilty by letter to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle on the Desert Road on February 12. Court heard how defendant had been travelling north on $H1 towing a trailer

when, while negotiating a bend, he had crossed the centre line and collided with an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle sustained a broken arm and bruised ribs. Defendant was convicted and fined $235, court costs $65 and he was disqualified for 21 days. False statement Tania Bronwyn Swale, 22, unemployed model of Wellington, pleaded guilty of making a false statement - contrary to the fact that an offence of assault with intent to injure had been committed. Court heard how defendant had reported to police that she had been attacked and stabbcd by an unknown male in Foyle St, Ohakune, on September 9. Defendant later changed hcr story following further police enquirics and inlerviews and it evcntually transpired that she had bcen injured with a knife in hcr upper leg when she got involved in an argument with her female travelling companion from Wellington when they journeyed to Ohakune that night. "We will probably Turn page 14

Ohakune Court

From page 10 never know cxactly what happened that evening," said her defence counsel, Paul Brown. Defendant was convicted and sentenced to make reparation of $660 to the police for the expenses incurred in investigating her complaint both in Ohakune and Wellington. She was ordered to make this payment at the rate of $20 per week or face a 60 day tcrm of imprisonment in default. Cannabis charge Patrick Cornelius Hohua Tahu, 30, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of cannabis and to one charge of possession of a pipe for the purpose of the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The changes arose out of a search warrant being executed on a house in Tawhero Road, Ohakune, on September 14 (the day before last week's Court sitting). Court heard how this was defendant'? fourth offence involving drugs in the past seven years. He was convicted and fined $235, court costs $65, on each charge. Counsel: I). G. Harvey. Possession David Watkins Tukapua, 22, unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded without pleas on a charge of possession of cannabis plant for supply on September 14. The charge arose out of a search warrant being executed on a house in Tawhero Road, Ohakune, on September

14 (the day before last, week's Court sitting). Defendant was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on October 12 for the taking of a plea and the hearing of evidence. Driving charges George Tamahana Wikohika, 33, painter of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to three charges which included: driving whilc disqualified; refusing to supply a specimen of blood; refusing to accompany an officer when requested to do so. He was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on October 12 and ordered to report to the police in Waiouru every Wednesday. Counsel: P. Brown. Theft by finding Ricky James Winiata, 26, labourer of Raetihi, changed his original plea of not guilty to guilty when he appeared last week to defend a charge of stealing a Brollibond jacket valued at $50 on December 22, 1987. Court heard how defendant had originally pleaded not guilty because he had not taken the jacket from a police car but had found it and not returned it to its rightful owner whose name was in the jacket. Defendant had subsequently given the jacket away to another person. In convicting and fining defendant $100, Judge Unwin said that theft by finding was still theft if the article stolen was not returned or handed in to police. Counsel: D. G. Harvey.