Trial on oysters charge

Press, 29 August 1979, Page 4

Trial on oysters charge

An unemployed man charged with receiving 35

cartons of oysters valued at $4500 elected trial by jury when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M., yesterday.

Douglas Rangi Cowan, aged 38, was remanded in custody to September 18 for the taking of depositions. He is alleged to have received the oysters from Ricki Kenneth Nicholas and Patrick Tangio Waihaka in Christchurch on August 24, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Waihaka and Nicholas have both been remanded in custody to appear in the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. On charges of cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis seeds, Cowan was remanded to November 2 for a defended hearing. RECEIVED GOODS A drainlayer foreman, convicted on two charges of receiving goods, valued at almost $5OOO, was remanded in custody to September 11 for a probation report and sentence.

Martin John Howard, aged 47, had pleaded guilty to re ceiving two power-boat drive units, valued at $3OOO, on or about January 10; and to having received electrical appliances; linen, tools, clothing, kitchenware and other items, to a total value

[of $1379, from Ross Alan i Wakefield between June 1 ! and August 13. Sergeant C. J. Shannahan said that in January the two power-boat drive units had been stolen from a Christchurch firm.

On August 12 a search warrant had been executed at the defendant’s address where in a bedroom wardrobe the units had been found hidden under a blanket.

Howard had told the police that he was looking after them for a friend whom he declined to name. A large quantity of household goods was also found and Howard admitted he had paid a person $5OO for them between June 1 and August 13, said Sergeant Shannahan. COMMUNITY WORK A former member of the Mongrel Mob gang, who had been found with a 14cm-long sharpened dagger strapped to his leg, was released on probation for 12 months and ordered to carry out 50 hours of community work.

Counsel (Mr E. Bedo) said that Stewart Malcolm Rolton, aged 26, unemployed, had since been attacked by members of his old gang and he had taken to carrying the knife for self protection.

Rolton last week was convicted oh a charge of being a rogue and vagabond, having been found in possession of housebreaking in-

istruments on June 12. He I pleaded guilty to the charges. It was while being spoken to by a police patrol that the sharpened dagger had been found strapped to one of Rollon’s legs.

(Before Mr B. A. Palmer S.M.)

OFFENCES IN SQUARE A man, whom Sergeant R. H. Prouting said had been warned several times about making advances to young women in Cathedral Square, admitted three offences arising out of another similar incident.

Billy WiTanuoa, aged 27, a labourer (Mr N. P. Chapman) faced charges of assaulting a female, using obscene language, and resisting Constable C. F. Stokes in the execution of his duty, in Cathedral Square on June 21.

He was fined $BO on the charge of assault, and $3O for resisting Constable Stokes. He was also ordered to pay compensation of $6O to Constable Stokes for damage to his watch and $32.90 to the Police department for damage to a tunic and trousers. He was convicted and discharged on the charge of obscene language.

The Magistrate said that he took into account on the. assault charge that the defendant was of limited intelligence. However, he

could not ignore previous convictions, particularly assault on a female last April. The Magistrate said fhe defendant was at present on probation, was living in a i protected environment to a degree, and was in employment. He did not wish to disturb this arrangement. Sergeant Prouting said the defendant approached a young woman in Cathedral Square and began talking to her. He followed her when i she walked away and tried I to put his arm around her. His actions were noticed by two policemen and while they were interviewing the girl the defendant was seen to approach other young women walking through the Square. When questioned the defendant became argumentative and used the obscene language. He became very abusive and violent and had to be handcuffed. Constable Stokes' watch and clothin ; were damaged. Mr Chapman said the defendant was of extremely limited intelligence and was not a danger in the community. The assault was not a serious one, and arose out of his limited understanding of what were socially acceptable standards. He worked for a Maori trust and since the offences he had not visited the Square as frequently as before.