COURT news from October 20.
Speedster sentenced A MAN who sped through Ōtorohanga at 137km/h while his passenger waved an alcohol bottle out the window, failed to stop for police, crashed his car and fled the scene, was sentenced last week. For driving with a breath alcohol reading of 483mcg (the legal limit is 250mcg) Conrad Gordon Leonard was sentenced to 200 hours community work, nine months’ supervision and disqualified from driving for one year and one day. For failing to stop for police, Leonard was disqualified for a further six months. He was sentenced to 100 hours community work and nine months supervision, to be served concurrently, for reckless driving. Judge Louis Bidois was told the father of six panicked and went into “flight mode” when he saw he was being followed by police with lights and sirens. Leonard came to the attention of police, who were in an unmarked vehicle, when he was travelling south on Maniapoto St on Wednesday October 12, at about 6.20pm. They recognised he was speeding and as he travelled along Te Kanawa St he was recorded at 137km/h in a 50km/h zone. The police summary of facts detailed how Leonard was observed to have become airborne in the Mazda he was driving on Kāwhia Rd, Ōtorohanga, and sparks flew as they hit the ground before police abandoned the pursuit. Police located the car further up the road where it had crashed partially down a bank. The passenger was standing on the roadside but Leonard had run off. He was later seen walking through nearby bush and returned to the crash when asked. The summary of facts noted he was emotional and clearly intoxicated. Protection order breached JUDGE Bidois sentenced a man who breached a protection order twice in two days to 160 hours of community work and ordered him to pay $200 emotional harm reparations. He heard how Wayne Basil Sicely was affected by alcohol during the first incident in August, when he grabbed his victim’s shoulder during an argument, injuring her. Two days later he and the victim began arguing over a TV show and he refused to leave when asked. Defence counsel Andrea Jones told the judge her 51-year-old client had not had alcohol since the offending. Driver sentenced A FATHER travelling from rural Ōtorohanga to visit his son in town was caught by police driving while his license was suspended. Jordan Wade Roberts pleaded guilty to driving while suspended and failing to stop for police and was sentenced to 100 hours of community work, nine months of supervision and fined $300.
Gun owner fined TWO firearms used for hunting have been given to a licensed person after Patea Muraahi, who did not have the appropriate license, was found to be in possession of them. While delivering Muraahi his sentence, Judge Bidois noted the guns were in a locked case and police acknowledged there was no sinister reason for him to be in possession of them. Muraahi was fined $500.
Weapon advice JUDGE Bidois advised Neihana Dre Anderson not to keep weapons in his car after he was found with an axe, knife, along with cannabis in his car. Anderson pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and explained via his lawyer Gaye Gray that the knife was for diving and the axe was for splitting firewood. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis. The judge sentenced Anderson to 160 hours of community work for the weapon charge and 40 hours of community work for the cannabis, to be served concurrently. He was ordered to forfeit the weapons.
Reparation for truck crash A TRUCKING company is forking out $10,000 a month to hire a truck after theirs was significantly damaged in a crash, Judge Bidois heard. The estimated total cost of repairs to the truck is $50,000, after Edward Albert Sargison, who was towing a boat, crashed into the truck. Sargison was convicted of driving with a breath alcohol level above 400mcg and fined $750. He was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $1000 in reparations. Judge Bidois noted Sargison had suffered some loss of his own property in the crash, which he said was of his own making.
Sentenced JUDGE Bidois suggested young Te Kūiti man Levi Emilio Cristian Tahi Bowden would be healthier, richer and in less trouble if he stopped drinking alcohol. Bowden pleaded guilty last week to assault on a person in a family relationship. He had previously pleaded guilty to charges of wilful damage, failing to stop when followed by red and blue flashing lights and driving while disqualified. This was his first assault conviction, which Judge Bidois said was to his credit, but warned he was “going down the road of being a wife beater.” The wilful damage charge came after Bowden walked down the road after the assault and kicked a car door, leaving what prosecutor Baden Hilton described as a “pretty decent dent.” The court heard how when Bowden was confronted by the owner of the car, who was not the victim of the assault, he apologised and offered to pay for the repairs. Judge Bidois used the assault as the lead charge and sentenced Bowden to nine months of supervision, 200 hours of community work and $300 emotional harm payment. He was ordered to pay $500 reparation for the damaged car and 80 hours of community work to be served concurrently. For driving while disqualified Bowden was sentenced to nine months of supervision and 100 hours of community work to be served concurrently. He was disqualified from driving for six months. Bowden was convicted and discharged for failing to stop for police. In explanation of his decision, Judge Bidois said he was not going to add to Bowden’s problems.
Drunk driver sentenced A MAN caught over the legal alcohol limit at a police checkpoint has been sentenced. Shannon Tapu-Te Rangituatea pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 80 hours of community work, nine months of supervision and is subject to an interlock license.
Sentence cancelled, reimposed JUDGE Bidois cancelled Allan Kete Kawhena’s outstanding 89.5 hours of community work and reimposed 90 hours. Kawhena pleaded guilty last week to breaching community work and three times breaching supervision. He was also sentenced to nine months of supervision. Defence counsel Gaye Gray said during the breaches when Kawhena wasn’t obeying his sentence he was living in Invercargill and was not in the right frame of mind. She said he had now acknowledged he needed help, he wanted it and he was in the right place in his life to accept it.
Urgent date sought A NOMINAL date was set in December for Terangi Trangmar, who has denied a raft of charges relating to threatening behaviour and breaching an extended supervision order. He has opted for a judge-alone trial, but there was no date available that allowed for the amount of time required. Bail has been denied for Trangmar and Judge Bidois noted the urgency of finding time for his trial due to him being in custody.
