Court confirms jail terms

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 4

Court confirms jail terms

“This case represents the crudest sort of standover tactics?’ said Mr Justice * Woodhouse in the Court of Appeal. Two men who appealed against sentences imposed inthe Supreme Court at Christchurch on charges of threatening to kill and demanding; money with menaces were fortunate not to have their' sentences increased, his Honour said. The Court dismissed apoeals by Thomas Tameawhio Kingi, aged 23, a barman,: against a sentence of four years and a half jail for threatening to kill and de-l manding money with ■ menaces, and by George Te Rongo Nepia, aged 39. a' showman, against a sentence: of two years jail for demanding money with menaces. The offences could realh

be regarded as arising frdtp ■ trafficking in heroin, the conij plainant being a self- ■ confessed drug dealer, his Honour said. The police in the ChristI church district had become I,concerned about the number of incidents involving demands for money for the pay;';ment of drugs. The present /case was a. deliberate and ■ calculated plan to enforce , payment as part of commet- . cil dealing in heroin and was l accompanied by threat# with , a shotgun. I The courts were far tj*> often obliged to deal with ■ those directly trafficking in (heroin and the case involved Ha difference facet of the same, /highly criminal :activity, Jiis /Honour said. ■ ; The other members of the /Court were Mr Justice [Richardson and Mr Justice I Somers.