District Court news

Gisborne Courthouse. File picture by Rebecca Grunwell

ROWEN Tuauau Aupouri, 26, shearer, pleaded not guilty to rape and was remanded on bail by Gisborne District Court for a Crown case review hearing on March 9.

Counsel Alistair Clarke said Aupouri elected trial by jury.

Mr Clarke sought a variation to Aupouri’s bail conditions, specifically to remove a curfew. Judge Raumati noted it had been in place for some time without incident, and granted the application. Other conditions included non-contact orders and would remain in place.

Aupouri also faced a charge of theft from a shop and a breach of bail. He pleaded guilty.

For the theft, Judge Raumati imposed a fine of $100 (costs $130) and ordered Aupouri to make reparation of $20.

The bail breach will be dealt with later.

~

A man admitted behaving offensively in Gladstone Road on a morning in November.

Tutere Panapa Papuni, 29, pleaded guilty to the charge, along with one of common assault and a breach of bail.

For the offensive behaviour, which Judge Raumati said was sexual in nature, Papuni was sentenced to 40 hours work with costs $130.

For the assault, he received nine months supervision, to include a stopping violence programme, and a further 40 hours community work (80 hours in total).

The victim in the assault was Papuni’s partner, who he verbally abused, twice punched in the upper arms, and placed in a headlock.

Papuni had previous relevant convictions — one for common assault in 2012 and one for disorderly behaviour.

~

Wi Derek Whiri-Mahara Huata, who is charged with violent offending against his former partner, was granted electronically-monitored bail to a Wairoa address.

Huata appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit and was represented in court by counsel Mark Sceats. He faces allegations of kidnapping, injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill and four counts of assaulting a female. His next court appearance will be on February 9.

Charged with violence against his former partner and their four month-old baby, Kane Pouraumati Crawford, 23, was refused electronically-monitored bail. He appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit.

Allegations include that Crawford assaulted the child and the woman, injured the woman with intent by knocking her out and battering her, that he stole some of her personal items — a phone, bank card and driver’s licence, breached a protection order and trespassed at her house.

Crawford is scheduled to plead to the charges on January 30.

~

Moko Adonijah Heeney, 32, forest worker, admitted assault by allegedly pushing his former partner three times in the chest, which caused her to fall over.

Judge Raumati imposed two months and one week imprisonment.

The sentence included an uplift of one month for Heeney’s several relevant previous convictions, for which he had also received short terms of imprisonment.

There was discount for Heeney’s guilty plea.

Judge Raumati said Heeney and the complainant had now separated.

Heeney appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit.

~

Eric Colin Kaaho, 37, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting a female, and a further charge of assault. He was remanded on bail for sentence on March 28.

A pre-sentence report will canvass his suitability for an electronically-monitored sentence.

~

Keely-Shae Albert, 19, was granted electronically-monitored bail to a Hamilton address.

Albert is charged with assaulting a female, two counts of burglary, receiving, two thefts from cars, a breach of community work, and four breaches of bail, which were admitted.

He will appear again in court on February 28.

Judge Raumati noted some of the matters Albert faced had been in the system for at least a year and had not been progressed due to Albert’s failure to attend court. Any further failure to comply and he would be taken back into custody, the judge warned.

~

Jade Herbert Beach, 30, admitted dishonesty and drug offences, specifically four burglaries, being unlawfully in a yard, possession of cannabis, possession of a methamphetamine pipe, theft and two breaches of court bail.

He was further remanded in custody for sentence on March 28. A pre-sentence report canvassing his suitability for an electronically-monitored sentence was ordered.

The matter was referred to the restorative justice process.

Beach appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit but requested his appearance at sentencing be in person. The request was granted.

~

For breaching intensive supervision by failing to report to his probation officer, which he admitted, Alfonso Lima was convicted and discharged.

A probation officer said Lima had since re-engaged and completed the sentence.

~

Stephen Houkamau, 20, pleaded guilty to wilful damage to a louvre window and three charges of failing to appear in court.

The probation service sought a review of a sentence of supervision previously-imposed for assaulting a female.

Houkamau admitted he had failed to comply with the requirements of the sentence.

Counsel Amanda Courtney said Houkamau had been affected by the sudden death of his mother.

Judge Raumati imposed a new sentence of supervision —– nine months, with 40 hours community work. The judge also ordered Houkamau to pay $50 to his sister, the complainant in the wilful damage charge, and court costs of $130.

~

For five driving offences, all of which he admitted, Hamiora Rickard Taylor Parata, 29, driver, was remanded on bail for sentencing on March 28.

The charges were driving with excess breath-alcohol for the third or subsequent time, driving in breach of a zero-alcohol licence, and three charges of driving while his licence was suspended or revoked.

~

Reuben Keith Gerrard, 30, cheese factory worker, pleaded guilty to driving with excess blood-alcohol (146mg) for the third or subsequent time, his third. He was sentenced to nine months supervision, 40 hours community work, with court costs $130.

He was disqualified for a year and a day and will be subject to a zero-alcohol licence in future.

~

Gloria Kathleen Cooper, 38, housewife, pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath-alcohol (440mcg) for the third or subsequent time, her fourth.

She was sentenced to 100 hours community work, disqualified from driving for a year and a day, with costs of $130.

For two breaches of bail, which she also admitted, Cooper was convicted and discharged.

~

Sharla Ngareta Te Kani, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified, the second of which was a third or subsequent offence. She was further remanded on bail for sentence on March 28.

The adjournment was an opportunity for Te Kani to get her licence, Judge Raumati said.

She could apply for community work in lieu of further disqualification that day, the judge said. In refusing to hear the application for the waiver at this hearing, the judge said he was mindful of prosecutor Sergeant Carl Neustroski’s submissions.

The sergeant told him Te Kani had been disqualified mainly through demerit points for driving while unsupervised. She had been on a learner’s licence for 10 years and had only ever undertaken the written part of the test. She had never been tested on her driving ability.

That was concerning, since Te Kani said she was reliant on her licence to transport her children.

Judge Raumati said he would not risk Te Kani being given the waiver without any incentive to upgrade her licence.

~