Alcohol played part in car destruction says judge

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 268, 20 December 1988, Page 12

Alcohol played part in car destruction says judge

The following cases were heard by Judge E.W. Unwin in the Ohakune district court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Russell England of Ohakune appeared for the police prosecution and Traffic Officer Ian Harrison of Ohakune appeared for the Ministry of Transport. Intentional damage Nevil Philip Bain, 34, hunter of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to one charge of causing intentional damage to a fence on September 23 and to one charge of stealing two wooden gates valued at $160 on October 30, both being the property of William Paul Cornelius. Because his legal counsel (Mr Jim Rota of Wanganui) was unable to appear last Thursday, defendant was remanded on bail to: appear for a defended hearing in the Ohakune District Court o n February 2 next year. No licence . Christopher Miles Bamett, 19, technician of Wellington, was convicted and fined $75 when he pleaded guilty by letter to one charge of driving a motor vehicle (a 50cc Yamaha motor cycle) in Miro S t r e e t , Ohakune, on July 9

without ever having had a driving licence of any kind, and to one charge of operating a motor vehicle to which registration plates had not been affixed in the prescribed manner. Disqualified Kirk John Betty, 19, unemployed o f Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge o f driving while disqualified in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on November 11. Court heard had defendant had been disqualified from driving three months earlier on August 29 in the Napier District Court. He was convicted and remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on February 2 1989 for sentence. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Disqualified Michael John Bramley, 38, self-employed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified i n Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, on September 7. Court heard how defendant had driven from the Cedar Service Station in Ohakune to the Ohakune Pharmacy, a distance of about 0.2 kilometres when h e was stopped by a po-

lice officer who knew him to be a disqualified driver. Defendant was fined $235, Court costs $65 and disqualified for three months. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. For sentencing Stephen H o a n i Brown, 17, casual worker of Rangataua appeared for sentence on two charges to which he had pleaded guilty at last month's Ohakune district court hearing - one involved the stealing and wrecking of a Holden Commodore valued at $34,000 and the other a charge of converting a tractor valued at $10,000. Both offences occurred on November 6 following the Round-the-Moun-tain race at which defendant was a supporter of one of his co-of-fenders on the final leg of the race. Defendant also appeared on two car conversion charges originally heard in the Taupo district court details of which were not available to the Bulletin at time of going to press. In passing sentence Judge Unwin said that alcohol had played a part - defendant with

three co-offenders had become 'mindessly destructive yobbs" after consuming two dozen bottles of beer. He told defendant that had it not been for his uncle, John Ranginui of Raetihi, being prepared to take charge of him in future, "you would have been on the way to Rangipo Prison this afternoon to serve a sentence of corrective training". Defendant was sentenced to 12 months community care and ordered to live and work under the care and direction of John Ranginui. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to make reparation of $1500 at the rate of $30 per week and to participate in an adult lifeway programme. Counsel: P. Brown. Assault Trevor Peter Condon, 30, shearer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Ruth Augustine Hepi, on December 13. Court heard how defendant had gone to the Ohakune Hotel after receiving a telephone call at work to say that complainant, his former de-facto wife, had taken his bank booki and wallet and had been drinking at the hotel all afternoon with the intention of travelling to Wanganui and not returning to defendant. When defendant attempted to recover the wallet and bank book in the Ohakune Hotel bottle store complainant said she had been struck on the back of the head. A struggle then followed on the footpath outside the hotel and complainant claimed she was later pushed to the ground and kicked. According to defence council, defendant's e v idence was a t considerable variance to that provided to the police by complainant. "My client's recollection of events was

much clearer than those of the complainant because my client was at least sober," he said. Defendant was convicted and given a suspended sentence of 12 months and ordered to pay $250 towards the cost of prosecution. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. No proof Raymond Brian Ellis, 19, Mechanic of Ohakune, did not appear on a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle in Goldfinch Street Ohakune on November 20, because there was no proof of service of the summons. The case was adjourned to be heard on February 2 1989. For sentencing Mark Anthony Evans, 17, student of Rangataua, appeared for sentence on f o u r charges to which he had earlier pleaded guilty with in the Ohakune district court. One charge involved the stealing and destruction of a Holden Commondor valued at $34,000, one involved the conversion of a tractor valued a t $10,000 and two involved the braking and entering into two chalets in Miharo Street, Rangataua. Court heard how defendant who had competed in the Round-the-Mountain race o n November 6 running the last leg from Karioi to Waiouru, had then consumed, with three co-offenders (two o f who appeared in the children's and young persons court), two dozen beers. In his summing up Judge Unwin said that alcohol had obviously played a significant part in the offences tuming a "group of ordinary decent youths into mindlessly destructive yobbs." It was particularly sad to learn that one of the complainants, whose property had been taken, had assisted defendant with his application to participate in the Spirit of Adventure programme. According to Judge

Unwin, defendant had "gone along with his co-offenders and didn't have the gumption to say the he didn't want toi; get involved." He was given a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to take counselling and treatment for alcohol abuse as directed by the probation officer. He was also ordered to make reparation of $1500 within 12 months. Counsel: P. Brown. Car conversion Adam Domimi Stephen Haitana, 22, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one charge of converting a Torana motor vehicle valued at $4500 being the property of George Thomas Taylor and to one charge of taking a Morrison bicycle valued at $300 being the property of Shane Hammond. Court heard how defendant who had been drinking at the Ohakune Hotel on the night of November 12, had taken an unlocked Torana motor vehicle from the hotel car park and attempted to drive home to Raetihi. He crashed the car on the Raetihi Road and walked some distance before finding and taking the Morrison bicycle. He was convicted and remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune district court on February 23 for a probation officer's report and sentence and reparation report. Intentional damage Jerry Tihe Henare, 20, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing intentional damage to three rubbish bins, the property of; the Waimarino district council. Court heard how defendant who had been drinking at the Ohakune Hotel on November 17 had gone with some companions into an Ohakune shopping mall and damaged the three rubbish bins yalued at $900, in a

series of karate kicks. He was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on February 23 for a reparation report. Obscene words Claudine Michelle Herewini, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene words in a public place (the Ohakune Primary School) on December 9. Court heard how defendant had gone to the Ohakune Primary School to confront a student who was "hassling" her younger brother. When she was asked to leave by the Principal, defendant had responded by the use of the words complained of on the charge sheet. She was convicted and fined $150. Adjourned Bruce Francis Liddle, 48, self employed of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to three charges when he appeared in the Ohakune district court last Thursday. The charges included: intentional damage to a fence on September 23; stealing two wooden gates valued at $160 on October 30; threating to kill on October 20. In each case the complainant was William Paul Cornelius. Because defendant's counsel (Mr Jim Rota of Wanganui) was not available last Thursday the case was adjourned to February 2 1989 for a defended hearing. Cash theft Brian Michael Ludeman, 37, unemployed of no fixed abode, appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing $300 from wholesome Foods in Clyde Street, Ohakune, on October 6. In passing sentence Judge Unwin said it was sad to see that defendant had abused the hospitality offered by complainant to providing accommodation, by stealing $300 from the till. Turnpage 13

Guilty plea to drug charge

From page 13 Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay reparation of $300 at the rate of $20 per week and was placed supervision for nine months. Counsel: P. Brown. Cannabis possession Ricky John McLeod, 22, unemployed labourer of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found in possession of cannabis plant material at defendant's address on November 11. He was convicted and fined $135, court costs $65. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. Theft charges Vernon Leslie McLeod, 19, unemployed of Karioi, appeared for sentence on two theft charges to which he had earlier pleaded guilty at last month's district court hearing. On one charge he

was convicted and sentenced to 20 hours community service and on the other to 40 hours community service, a total of 60 hours. He was also ordered to make a reparation payment of $200, a formality since the money had already been paid into the court. Counsel: P. Brown. Not guilty plea Raymond Anson Mahe, 22, forestry worker of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty when he appeared on three charges. These included one charge of possession of cannabis seeds on November 4. The other two charges were laid in the alternative: either that he stole a Victa motor mower, two edge trimmers, a greasegun, jery-can, rake and broom valued at $500 being the property of the Raetihi Bowling

Club; or that he received the above items between October 25 and October 31 knowing them to have been stolen or dishonestly obtained. He was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune district court on February 2 1989 for a defended hearing. Counsel: D.G. Harvey. Order breached Hillary Pirihita Metekingi, 32, housewife of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of breaching a community service order which had been imposed following her conviction on an earlier charge. Turnpage 14

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Bigamy charge dismissed

From page 13 Court heard from defendant's counsel how several attempts had been made by defendant to serve her sentence but because of the confusing arrangements she had been unable to do so. However, as a result of recent changes in her financial situation the court decided it was appropriate to review the original community service sentence and exchange it by imposing a monetary penalty. She was convicted and fined $150, court costs $65. Assaulting a female Phillip James O'Riley, 29, panelbeater of Taihape, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a female, Bernadette Mary Byford, on October 7. Court heard how defendant who had been invited to a party, had gone with some uninvited companions to an address in Taihape on the day in question. He parked his car in the driveway but then found that his friends were refused admission to the address. The complainant, whose car was also in the driveway, asked defendant to move his car and as he was prepar-

ing to do so, complainant allegedly reversed her car into the front of defendant's vehicle damaging it with her tow-bar. Defendant went to the driver's side door of complainant's car, opened it and slapped complainant about the head, "four or five times" according to the complainant, "two or three times" according to the defendant. Court heard how defendant had since been aSsaulted by complainant's father and had had to put up with various types of abuse from complainant's mother since the incident. In convicting and fining defendant $600 ($400 of which was to be paid to the complainant) Judge Unwin said that it was a 'sad one-off' situation which had brought the defendant into a court of law for the first time. Counsel D.G. Harvey. Burglary Darryl Wayne Pickery, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on four charges of burglary, one charge of breaking and entering (he was found in the Hot Lava

Nite Spot at 4am wearing socks on his hands), one charge of resisting arrest and one charge of breach of periodic detention. Before passing sentence Judge Unwin reviewed defendant's criminal activities in Lower Hutt and Ohakune since November last year and concluded by saying it was obvious "this young man needs family support and discipline if hie is to mend his ways and avoid the slippery path." Defendant was sentenced to corrective training on all charges. Counsel: P. Brown. Assault Stephen Charles Pue, 18, unemployed of Taihape, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting James Andrew Cornwall on December io. Court heard how complainant had tried to stop a fight between defendant and his defacto wife in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on the day in question. As he did so defendant turned his attention to complainant hitting him about the face and head, breaking his spectacles and delivering several karatelike kicks. Defendant was convicted and remanded to appear in the Taihape district court on January 30 1989 for a probation officer's report and sentence. Counsel: P. Brown. Arrest warrant Robert Taku, 17, ac-

cess worker of Taihape, was to have appeared on a charge of dangerous driving following an accident (reported in the Bulletin of Tuesday December 6) when defendant's car went off the road at the electricity Sub-Station on State Highway 49 and crashed through two gates and three properties narrowly missing a woman who was working in the g arden of one of the properties. When he failed to appear in court a warrant for his arrest was issued. Case dismissed Michael Charles Tubbs, 37, manager of Hamilton, was to have appeared on a charge of dangerous driving on State Highway 49 on August 14. However as the Ministry of Transport had been unable to obtain the evidence in order to bring a successful prosecution, the case was dismissed. Counsel P. Brown. I n t e n t t o defraud A 22 year old man was remanded without plea when he appeared on a charge of using a document (an ANZ Bankcard) with intent to defraud in order to obtain a pecuniary advantage. He is due to appear for a plea to be taken on February 2 1989 and was granted interim suppression of name. Bigamy charge dismissed The case against a 39-year-old man who

had earlier appeared twice in the Ohakune district court on a bigamy charge was dismissed when court was told that, following further investigations in another country, no recognised form of legal marriage had occurred and that the defendant's second 'marriage' was therefore void. Defendant was granted final suppression of name on the grounds that having committed no offence it was not appropriate to publish his name.