Court News

Week ending Wednesday, February 3, 2009

Threatening to kill case back in the high court
Bail changed for Williams
This week’s appearances

StRuck-off lawyer Tevita Vakalalabure appeared before the high court on Thursday for an outstanding threatening to kill charge.

Legal counsel Norman George requested that the case be adjourned until Vakalalabure receives the medical “documents” he is expecting. The defendant is waiting to hear confirmation for an appointment he made with an Auckland specialist, who will review his “medical condition”.

George said the court should use the defendant’s “medical report” as a “guideline” for the case.

The defendant was disbarred in November of last year after the court judged him to be unfit to practise law.

Since 2007, Vakalalabure has been appearing in court for a series of offences: fabricating evidence, assaulting a pregnant woman, contempt of court, threatening to kill, assault with intent to injure, excess breath alcohol, endangering transport, driving while disqualified and drunken driving causing injury.

At trial last year he claimed that “alcoholism” and “depression” caused by negative media coverage led him to commit the offences.

On Thursday, George did not mention any details of the current “medical condition” from which Vakalalabure suffers. The defendant will re-appear in court on February 25.

• Rachel Reeves

Paul Williams appeared in court this week for assault on a female. His wife will not be withdrawing the charges.

Prosecutor Kim Saunders of Crown Law said that Williams had “approached” and “interfered with” the victim, thus violating the conditions of his bail.

Counsel Norman George countered that since the couple is “back together, living happily together”and said the bail conditions should be withdrawn, as Williams should be free to approach his wife.

“I don’t think our system is designed to ruin people’s relationships,” George said. “There are children involved. Let’s be sensible about it – we’re in a civilised country.”

Bail conditions were withdrawn and the case was adjourned to February 12. Williams’ outstanding manslaughter, dangerous driving and excess breath alcohol charges will be reviewed by a jury on May 3.

• Rachel Reeves

Cases dealt with in the high court this week:

Tuarongo Pareangacharged with attempted rape. Pareanga has been advised to seek legal representation and will re-appear before the court on February 4.

Andrew Tonoriocharged with theft. Tonorio has 13 outstanding ‘not guilty’ pleas and four outstanding ‘guilty’ pleas. On Thursday he told the court that he’d like to enter all 17 pleas as ‘guilty’. His counsel said that Tonorio “doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life where he is now” and has decided to make some changes. His cases will be reviewed in court on March 8.

Greer Solomoncall-over for failing to ascertain after a vehicle accident. Case adjourned again to March 25.

Travel Tangatapoto–pleaded guilty to assault on a female and not guilty to burglary. Legal counsel Norman George asked the court to adjourn the burglary case until the outcome of the assault case has been determined so as to file both at once and “save the probation service some labour,” he said. The hearing will be on Feburary 8.

Donald Hallincharged with theft. Case adjourned to February 8.

Wilfred Dauvoiscall-overs for excess breath alcohol and excessive noise. The charges will be reviewed in court on February 12.

Sheena Murraycharged with careless driving and driving without a licence. Justice of the peace Bernice Manarangi issued a bench warrant for her failure to appear in court.

Daisey Amacharged with theft. She did not appear in court and Manarangi issued a bench warrant. “I don’t know where she is,” George said. “I am her counsel but I can’t carry her to court.”

John Henrycharged with wilful damage. Case adjourned to February 18.

Metuamoeroa Tangataporocall-overs for 17 various charges. George sought a “long adjournment,” as the defendant’s former lawyer “has been reluctant to hand over the file,” he said. Case adjourned to March 18.

Delaney Yaqonamade a request for a special conditional licence to attend school functions on weekends. He is a teacher at Tereora College. Manarangi granted his request but said that the defendant is responsible for proving that he was using his licence to attend school functions only.

Nooroa Kakinocharged with escape from prison. Counsel Wilkie Rasmussen withdrew his legal services so Kakino is currently not represented. Case adjourned to February 18.

Terereiti Kuretapleaded not guilty to excess breath alcohol through counsel Lavina Rokoika. The case was adjourned to February 2 and is pending disclosures from the prosecution.

Jone Koroicharged with excess breath alcohol. Case adjourned to March 25.

Sema Robaticharged with excess breath alcohol. The case is adjourned to March 25, as counsel Tina Browne is currently in Delhi.

Roger Tauareacharged with cultivating cannabis. Case adjourned to February 18.

Glenn Hoffappeared in court for being of unsound mind. His case will be reviewed in court on February 11.

Tuainekeu Kareappeared in court for being of unsound mind. His case was adjourned to February 11.

Putere Deancharged with unlawful taking. He will be remanded in custody until his case is reviewed in court on February 3.

Tuaine Tangimetua –charged with fighting in a public place. The defendant was convicted and fined $100 plus $30 court costs.

Maarametua Storycharged with assault on a female. Case adjourned to February 4.

Marcel Matapopleaded guilty to fighting in the Rehab carpark in early December. He was convicted and fined $100 plus $30 court costs.

Torea Steinpleaded guilty to fighting in the Rehab carpark and carrying a bush knife, which the court called an “offensive” weapon. He was convicted and fined $200 plus $60 court costs.

Rimu Ioanepleaded guilty to careless driving and driving without a licence. He was convicted and fined $40 plus $30 court costs.

Joe Katu –charged with breach of probation conditions. Case adjourned to February 9.

Lydia Johnsoncharged with two counts of theft. She pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of Absolut vodka from Friendly Mart and a jar of coffee from an Arorangi shop. She will re-appear in court on February 8.

Tim Scheelcharged with assault on a female. Case adjourned to February 11.

Potai Taamarucharged with excess breath alcohol. The defendant was convicted and fined $200 plus $30 court costs, and an additional $150 for the cost of medical blood tests.

• RR