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Bench warrants issued for non-appearance
3 bench warrants issued
Bench warrants issued for non-appearance
Fri
5 Feb
Justice of the Peace Dorice Reid issued bench warrants for a number of people who failed to turn up to court yesterday.
Bench warrants were issued for Bobby Tekoronga, Tangatatutai Ngatupuna, David Nicholls, Brett Gibson, David Chaloner, Matangaro Lang, Samuel Karaponga, Temu Okotai, Sakaria Siga and Samuela Seru, who all failed to appear in court.
JP Reid presided over a number of cases in the high court this week.
A female with name suppression was called over for a theft charge.
Legal counsel Norman George said that because the defendant has been “busy at work” she has not been able to meet with him, but “there may be a possibility of changing her plea” to guilty. The case was adjourned to February 25.
Eiao Baniani -- flew in from Aitutaki to appear in court for a theft as a servant charge. He entered a not guilty plea, and George requested a trial by jury and a maximum callover adjournment. The defendant was bailed at large and will appear before a jury on April 1.
Terekimiora Katoa -- charged with common assault and importing cannabis. George requested adjournment for the assault case because the complainant left for New Zealand “with no indication that he will ever return to the Cook Islands,” he said. He also asked that the importation case be adjourned to the same date. The defendant will reappear before the court on February 18.
Andrew Temata -- callover for assisting an inmate. The defendant entered a not guilty plea and George requested disclosures from the prosecution so as to better prepare for trial. The case was adjourned to March 8.
Francis Dashwood -- charged with contempt of court after breaching bail conditions. He was arrested in September of last year for a “domestic matter,” George said, and recently approached the complainant’s home hoping to reconcile. George said that the defendant did not in fact enter the home and “acted rather civily” in that he did not challenge the court, but Reid reminded him that the complainant was probably “traumatised” nonetheless. Dashwood was convicted and fined $30 plus $30 court costs.
A male with name suppression was charged with indecent assault and legal counsel Lavenia Rokoika requested that the case be adjourned to March 25.
Roger Lyon and Vernon Clarke -- charged with contempt of court. Travis Moore objected to a call-over “for no reason” and suggested that the court wait for a chief justice, who has been previously briefed, to hear the case. The cases were adjourned to April 29, a week before the arrival of the next chief justice.
Tuarongo Pareanga pleaded guilty to contempt of court. The defendant was convicted and fined $40 plus $30 court costs. He was advised to seek legal counsel for an outstanding attempted rape charge and will re-appear in court on February 25.
A female with name suppression was charged with theft. Legal counsel Norman George requested adjournment to February 25 so as to give him time to obtain her file from a previous lawyer.
Sean Browne -- callover for possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis utensils and two counts of theft. George said that he is “not in a position to enter a plea” as he has not yet met with the defendant. The case was adjourned to February 25.
Tuamotu Matamaki appeared in court because his dog attacked a person. George said that the complainant is in France indefinitely and the case was dismissed “for want of prosecution,” Reid said.
Maarametua Kaukura -- charged with assault on a female. The defendant was convicted and put on 12 months’ probation. Conditions include: abstinence from the consumption and purchase of alcohol, ban on entering liquor licensed premises and a requirement to attend workshops and counselling sessions scheduled by probation officer.
Porohiti Koiatu -- pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and excess breath alcohol charges. The defendant was convicted and fined $100 plus $30 for dangerous driving and fined $300 plus $30 court costs for excess breath alcohol. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months because, as Reid reminded him, “an EBA charge is serious.”
Michael Vaine -- pleaded guilty to excess breath alcohol and dangerous driving charges. The case was adjourned to February 25 because the prosecution couldn’t find documents detailing his blood alcohol concentration, which will determine his fine.
Tutai Pere Jnr -- charged with unlawful taking. The defendant did not appear in court and Reid adjourned the case to February 25.
Tutai Amiri Jnr -- pleaded guilty to excess breath alcohol and driving while disqualified. The defendant was convicted and fined $350 in total and $60 in court costs. He will be disqualified from driving for another 12 months.
Grover Harmon -- pleaded guilty to excess breath alcohol. The defendant was convicted and fined $250 plus $30 court costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
3 bench warrants issued
Sat
6 Feb
Three bench warrants were issued at last Thursday’s criminal hearing in the High Court.
Bobby Tekoronga was charged with excess breath alcohol. His failure to appear in court prompted Reid to issue a bench warrant.
Tangatatutai Ngatupuna was charged with cultivating cannabis and assault on a female. He did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued.
David Nicholls was charged with driving without a licence and careless driving. A bench warrant was issued for failure to appear in court.
Bench warrants were not issued for Bret Gibson, David Chaloner, Matangaro Lang, Samuel Karaponga, Temu Okotai and Sakaria Siga . Their cases were adjourned to March 25.
Cook Islands News apologises for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
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