District Court news

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A MAN charged with raping a female aged over 16 and an associated charge of burglary entered not guilty pleas and was granted bail in Gisborne District Court.

Hira Hone Taingahue, 34, was further remanded until a Crown callover in the court on April 21.

Bail conditions included that he reside out of Gisborne with an overnight curfew, that he not come to Gisborne except to attend court and that he abstain from using alcohol and other drugs.

Police opposed the bail application.

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PLEADING not guilty to an assault alleged to have arisen during an incident of family violence, Reuben Hurlstone, 23, was remanded on bail until April 18 for a judge-alone trial.

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FOR cultivating and possessing cannabis for supply, which he admitted, Cyrus Taiapa, 43, was remanded on bail for sentence on March 16.

A report was ordered into his suitability for an electronically-monitored sentence.

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ASHLEIGH Adeline Apanui, 22, mother, pleaded guilty to assault arising out of a family violence situation. She received 40 hours community work.

Apanui, who represented herself, told the court she no longer lived with the complainant.

For breaching community work, which she also admitted, Apanui was convicted and discharged.

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TIMOTHY Carr, 32, admitted assaulting a woman during a family violence incident and two charges of wilful damage.

He was remanded on bail for sentence and a dispute of facts hearing on March 16.

Carr disputed punching and head-butting the woman, aspects that were material to sentence, Judge Cathcart said.

A pre-sentence report into Carr’s suitability for an electronically-monitored sentence was ordered.

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ALEC Thomson, 30, who had pleaded guilty to common assault and was due to be sentenced on that charge, pleaded guilty to a new charge of driving with excess blood-alcohol (124mg), a fourth offence.

On both charges, he was further remanded on bail for sentence on March 16.

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LUKE Ormsby Edwards, 25, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified for a third or subsequent time and breaching community work.

He was further remanded on bail for sentence on March 16.

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JASON Joseph Te Maro, 26, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified for a third or subsequent time.

He was further remanded on bail until March 16 for sentence and an application for community work in lieu of further disqualification.

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FOR breaching community detention, which he admitted, Wiremu Hawea, 57, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months.

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