Escaper’s prison term extended

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 4

Escaper’s prison term extended

A>- Canadian who escapee from . Paparua Prison./in order to see his de facto wife o two months added to his existing prison term when he appeared for sentence before Judge Bisphaij in the District Court yesterdav.

The Judge told Braden Dean Frees, aged 19, that in hacksawing his way through the h cell bars it had been a deliberate escape and one which called for a deterrant sentence.

Frees had earlier admitted the which occurred on April 14.

After escaping with a cellmate, the pair had scaled a compound wall and made off across paddocks. Acting on information received. Frees had been apprehended at an address in Waltham.

Counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) said his client had a habit of acting impulsively and at the time of the escape he had become obsessed with his domestic life.

He had only been at liberty for 10 hours and the address of the defendant’s de

facto wife was the first place the police went to.

PERIODIC DETENTION An unemployed man who earlier admitted - , arranging for the sale ; of a colour television set to an undercover police officer, was sentenced to periodic detention for four months.

John Kevin Kuru, aged 34, had not taken a substantial part in the operation and the offence had been an isolated one, said counsel (Mr M. J. Knowles).

Earlier the police prosecutor, Sergeant G. C. Jones, had said that when the police officer went to the defends ant's home. Kuru had made a telephone call and another person had brought the television set-to his home.

The $950 set, stolen from a house in April, 1979, was sold to the officer for $l9O. DEPOSITIONS

A man charged with assaulting Margo Ann McGeachin, and that with intent to do grievous bodily harm he injured her, elected trial by jury. Darryl Ivor Wheeler, aged

27, unemployed, was remanded to June 8 for the taking of depositions. Bail was set at $2OOO.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on March 29. BOX DESTROYED A youth who converted a car had deliberately driven it al a public telephone box, said Sergeant Jones. Bruce Stuart Cowan, aged 17, unemployed, who admitted wilfully damaging the box, converting a $l7OO car. and driving while disqualified, was convicted and remanded to Maj’ 12 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant Jones said the converted car was used for a joy ride and while in the Wainoni area the defendant had mounted a kerb and hit the telephone box which was completely destroyed. The vehicle was abandoned soon afterwards.

Cowan (Miss I. Mitchell) said he only took the car for a joy ride as he enjoyed driving cars. The deliberate demolishing of the telephone

box had been done on the spur of the moment. CHARGES DENIED A sickness beneficiary denied three charges of receiving stolen property, valued at more than $4OOO. Jack Rota, aged 44, ’is alleged to have received a video tape recorder, valued at $3OOO, a stereo system, valued at $lO7O. and a stereo amplifier, valued at $2OO. All three offences are alleged to have been committed in February. Rota was remanded on bail to July 2 for a defended hearing. FURTHER REMAND A girl charged with stealing $3OOO from her employer over a period of 12 months was further remanded without plea to May 12. Rhonda Claire Brenssell, aged 17, unemployed, (Mr P. M. James) is alleged to have stolen the money from Supervalue Supermarket, Northlands, between April, last year, and this month.

Bail of $2OOO, with a surety of the same amount, was renewed.

CHARGES DENIED One man charged with behaving in a threatening manner in No. 5 courtroom, and another facing a charge of using obscene language in the same courtroom, denied the alleged offences. Noel John Walter Kelly, aged 23, a scrub cutter (threatening behaviour) and Marty Fleming Brandt, aged 20. unemployed, were remanded to June 29 for a defended hearing. Kelly is alleged to have committed the offence on April 9 and Brandt the next day. DEPOSITIONS A man charged with the burglary of the Canterbury Building Society in New. Brighton Mall from which a safe containing $23,000 was removed elected trial by jury.

Andrew James Beedies, aged 19, a labourer (Mr M. J. Glue) was remanded in cutody to June 23 for the taking of depositions. Beedies is charged with committing the offence on or about March 8.