Three armed invaders gaoled for 5 years

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 3

Three armed invaders gaoled for 5 years

PA Auckland . Three young men who threatened policemen [with firearms, then took over a house in One Tree Hill and held the occupants at gun-point, were sentenced to five years gaol yesterday in the Auckland Supreme [Court.

Mr Jutice Speight told the men that most Aucklanders would probably be “shocked and amazed” that such events could happen in the city. He praised the actions of the defence lawyer, Mr G. Gotlieb, in negotiating between the police and the criminals (at the One Tree Hill house. I Before the Court were i Patrick Ronald Kiriona, aged [27, Genesis Philip Smith, [aged 23, and Tohaia Pou[whare, aged 20. I Each had pleaded guilty to [four charges of aggravated (assault at an earlier hearing in the Magistrate’s Court. Each had also admitted one or more lesser charges. Mr IW. J. Mitchell, S.M., had declined jurisdiction. The Court had heard that the prisoners had driven to Auckland from Wellington on May 9 in a stolen car. On [the evening of Tuesday, May 111, Pouwhare had committed a minor burglary unknown to [his two co-accused. I The police had stopped 'their vehicle in Newmarket, and Smith, not knowing of the burglary, rebelled against the police inquiry. He produced a shotgun, which had been stolen on the way to Auckland, and threatened the officers. Pouwhare and Kiriona also held firearms. In the company of two, girls, the prisoners escaped to One Tree Hill, where they intended to get another vehicle, but because of police pursuit they broke into the house of iMr E. F. Doherty [ and held the occupants host-1 iage with loaded firearms. I

After more than four hours the men gave themselves up to police, who had thrown an armed cordon around the house. Mr Gotlieb played a major role in negotiations. Yesterday morning, Mr Gotlieb submitted that the events were almost like a nightmare and the only reason the men had not given up earlier that night was they were scared of physical injury from the police. The Judge said Aucklanders were, no doubt, aware of the sensational events of that night and would be amazed and shocked that the invasion of a private home and the holding of hostages at loaded gunpoint could happen in Auckland.

I It was necessary to dis-' [regard the sensational aspects Hf the case. He accepted that [the events had gone beyond [the scale of the men’s original [concept. I He said that this was the most violent affront to the law-abiding constitution of the community. “It is bad when offenders [retaliate to policemen making lawful investigations by [threatening with firearms,” the Judge said. The events at One Tree [ Hill had much more aggra-i [[vated circumstance and itl

'was necessary to combine the two incidents by way of a cumulative prison term. Mr Gotlieb had figured prominently in convincing [ the offenders to surrender; and displayed courage and; common sense that the community should be grateful for.! Each was sentenced to two! years imprisonment for the] Newmarket incident and a] maximum of three years fori the One Tree Hill incident,] the sentences to be cumulative. They were convicted and; (discharged on the remaining] loffences.