COURT news from November 2 in Te Kūiti.
Trial date pulled A TRIAL by judge alone scheduled in January for Trent Kevin Cunningham had to be cancelled last week due to conflicts in the court schedule. A day of trials had been scheduled for the same day in Te Awamutu District Court, with the same judge and the same prosecutor required to be there, and Cunningham’s trial was cancelled as a result. He has been put off to a nominal date in December, when court staff will attempt to find another trial date for him to defend himself against a charge of driving a motor vehicle causing sustained loss of traction.
Driver stuck in license loop THE past several times Sean Peter Revell has appeared in court, he has relayed to the judge his difficulties in adhering to the rules of his interlock license. Each time his case would be adjourned so he could get an interlock device fitted in his car and his license fully reinstated, Revell’s lawyer Gaye Gray said. Prosecutor Baden Hilton explained that to fully reinstate his previously disqualified license to a restricted level with the interlock condition, he had to sit a practical test. Until then he was required to drive with a supervising passenger. Revell told the judge last week that he got the interlock device fitted in his vehicle, but when he went to Te Kūiti VTNZ to sit his practical test, he was told they could not examine him with the interlock device. The judge heard he spent hours on the line to head office trying to speak to someone who could sort it out. “He has been stuck between a rock and a hard place for a long time,” the defence lawyer said. At the risk of being stuck in the same loop for even longer, Revell requested he be sentenced last week. He was sentenced to 50 hours of community work for driving while disqualified. The judge decided Revell had gone to sufficient effort to get his license reinstated so opted for the community work in lieu of a further disqualification.
Trio deny charges THREE people accused of assault with intent to injure have opted to have their defence heard at a judge alone trial. Conan Warena Tahi, Neville John Mckeich and Sandi Lane Boreham have all been remanded on bail until a nominal date in December, when court staff will attempt to find a time to schedule their trial.
Charge admitted, others denied A CHARGE of breaching a protection order was admitted by Stephen Codye Sanders, who appeared by audio visual link from custody. He admitted the police claim that he pulled his victim’s hair and kneed her in the head after an argument. At the same appearance, Sanders pleaded not guilty to a second charge of breaching a protection order and of driving without a license.
Charges to be defended A TRIAL date was not able to be set for Michael Riwhi Fred Martin, who has pleaded not guilty to two assaults, threatening to kill, intentional damage and contravening a protection order. A nominal date was set for December, when court staff will attempt to find a date to hold the trial.
Thanks from judge JUDGE Brett Crowley thanked Wade Russell Kelly for complying with his sentence of intensive supervision, completing all his responsibilities ahead of time. The remainder of the sentence was cancelled.
Discharged BY completing her outstanding community work hours, Stacy Jace Waitangi Matthews avoided further penalty. She had previously pleaded guilty to breaching an order of community work and was convicted and discharged last week.
Trial elected A MAN accused of threatening to kill his neighbour has denied the charges and opted for a judge alone trial. Ian Charles Halligan has been remanded in custody until his next appearance in mid-December, due to his proximity to the complainant. Judge Crowley heard Halligan was having difficulty getting permission to access the contact information on his phone to attempt to organise an alternative bail address.
Pleas entered BUDDY Crawford Kawhena pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a Remington .270 rifle and two bullets, and hunting a deer on property where he did not have permission to do so. At the same appearance he pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault. He will next appear in mid-December.
Sentence converted PURE refusal to complete a community work sentence resulted in it being converted to a fine for Graham Kere Barrett. In January Barrett was disqualified from driving and ordered to complete 40 hours of community work for his sixth drink driving conviction, but his first one this century. Barrett told Judge Crowley he felt he could not be given two punishments for one crime. “I accept the disqualification but not the community work. If you include one then you’ve got to exclude the other.” The judge converted the community work, which was the minimum number of hours that could be given, to a $400 fine.
