The courts Robbery charge remands

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 19

The courts Robbery charge remands

Two men charged with robbing a man of property worth $619 at Ashburton last Thursday were remanded in custody when they appeared before Mr J. S. Bisphan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday,

Russell Douglas White aged 20, unemployed, and Maprice Alan Joseph Pahl, aged 27, a labourer, were remanded without plea to August 27.

They were jointly charged with robbing Thomas Colin Jensen of a radio cassette player, valued at $269, and a wrist watch, valued at $619. Bail was opposed by Sergeant C. J. Shannahan. CONVERSION OFFENCE A showman’s assistant who admitted converting a $5OOO sports car had, during a chase with police, braked hard and jumped out, leaving the car to run up on a footpath, causing S6lO worth of damage to it, the Magistrate was told. Raymond John Pearce, aged 27, admitted charges of converting the car, driving it while not holding a driving

licence, dangerous driving, wilfully damaging the vehicle, and possessing at night instruments capable of being used to take a car, a key and a screwdriver. He denied a charge of stealing items from the car, valued at $l9O. The offences occurred on August 14. Pearce was convicted on the charges to which he pleaded guilty. He was remanded in custody to August 27 for a probation report and sentence. He was remanded to the same date on the charge which he denied. Sergeant Shannahan said that between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on August 14 the sports car had been taken from the car-park of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. At 11.20 p.m. the vehicle was seen by a police patrol car. When the officers [alighted from the police car the defendant had jumped into the sports car and had driven off at high speed. I During a chase along a 50 'km/h controlled part of the

Maui North Road the defendant had reached speeds of 120 km/h to 130 km/h after swerving to traffic, said Sergeant Shannahan. Near St Bede’s College Pearce had braked hard and had jumped out of the car letting it run up on to the footpath, Sergeant Shannahan said. When apprehended the defendant said he had not taken the car but that he knew it was converted. A key, used to start the car, was found in his possession, as was a screwdriver. Pearce said that he did not hold a driver’- licence. Sergeant Shannahan said the damage to the vehicle was $6lO and compensation was sought. FALSE PRETENCE CHARGES

Six charges of false pretence involving cash, a frock and a hairdryer, amounting to $5OO, have been denied by a 23-year-old solo mother. Marilyn Tiriata Thompson, who pleaded not guilty to the charge was remanded on bail to October 19 for a defended hearing. The alleged offences were committed in Christchurch on February 26 and 27. CHARGE DENIED A charge of importing a class A controlled drug into New Zealand was denied by an unemployed man. Mark William Thomas, aged 28, is alleged to have imported Psilocine at Christchurch on March 15. He was remanded on bail of $2OOO to October 16 for a defended hearing. THEFT ALLEGED A housewife, aged 51, was remanded without plea on a charge of theft to August 25. Annaliese Goettler, is charged that on or about May 7 she stole a cheque made out for $5618. A request for interim suppression of the defendant’s name was declined by the Magistrate. Goettler was allowed bail of $5OO. THEFT OF CAR

A couple who admitted stealing a $5OOO car on August 12 were convicted and remanded to August 27 for probation reports and sentence. Christopher Graeme Falla, aged 21, a beneficiary, was allowed bail of $750. with two sureties of $5OO, and ordered to report daily to the police. Linda Margaret Falla, aged 19, unemployed was allowed bail of $5OO. Sergeant Shannahan said that about 1 a.m. on August 12 the defendants drove to the premises of Blackwell Motors, Ltd. Mrs Falla, after dropping her husband off there drove on. Her husband broke a padlock and took the $5OOO car which he started with a key he had obtained earlier, said Sergeant Shannahan. The stolen car had been left in a garage overnight and the next day its engine and gearbox were removed. With the aid of a friend the car was towed some distance away and abandoned. The gear box. engine and other items taken were then moved to the defendants address. Sergeant Shannahan said these items had been recovered. In explanation Christopher Falla had told the police the engine in his own car needed work done on it and he had thought it would be a good thing to use the sto-

len engine and gearbox in his own vehicle.

Mrs Falla told the police she had been aware of what her husband was doing and that she had gone along because he had asked her to. DEPOSITIONS A 25-year-old unemployed man who was charged with receiving the $5OOO car from the Fallas, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained, elected trial by jury.

The man, who was granted interim suppression of his name, was remanded on bail to September 3 for the taking of depositions. LIQUOR SOUGHT

Three persons who broke into the clubrooms of the New Brighton Kangas Australian Rules Football Club looking for liquor appeared in court yesterday. Gary Leslie Waites, aged 26, Nicholas John Dunn, aged 21, and Philip John Brooks, aged 22, all carpenters, admitted the offence, which took place on Sunday. They were convicted and remanded on bail of $lOOO each to August 27 for probation reports and sentence. Sergeant Shannahan said about 1 a.m. on Sunday the three defendants had met at a New Brighton address where they had decided to go to the club’s rooms in Keyes Road where they believed they would find liquor. This they had intended to steal to take to a party. At the club’s premises Brooks and Dunn had got inside, found a Quantity of liquor which they then began passing out to Waites who put it in his car.

As a result of information received a police patrol arrived at 1.30 a.m. Waites ran off while Brooks and Dunn made their escape over adjoining property, said Sergeant Shannahan. When apprehended Waites refused to help the police. All the liquor was recovered, said Sergeant Shannahan. Maureen Rosalind Spence, aged 20, a housewife, who also appeared with the three men on a charge of breaking into the clubrooms, was remanded to August 27 without plea. Bail of $lOOO was allowed and the Magistrate refused a request for the interim suppression of her name. DRUG OFFENCES There was a distinct likelihood of a custodial sentence being imposed if the defendant appeared in court on any further similar drug charges, said the Magistrate. He told Ruth Margaret Genet, aged 28, a student, who was appearing in court for a third time on drug offences, that a reasonably large amount of cannabis had been involved in the latest offending. It was fortunate, he added, that the defendant had not been charged with possession for supply. Last week Genet pleaded guilty and was convicted on one charge of possessing cannabis leaf on July 22, and another of cultivating cannabis on July 26. She was released on probation for 18 months and ordered to do 100 hours of community work. When a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s flat they had found 19 cannabis “bullets,” 20 cannabis roaches, seeds, leaf material, a pipe, and two plants being cultivated, the Magistrate was told last week. The drugs were for her own use.