Man, woman charged with motel robbery

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 4

Man, woman charged with motel robbery

An Australian-born woman jointly charged with a man with the robbery of a North Canterbury fencing contractor in a Christchurch motel on the evening of September 21 told a detective when questioned about the matter that the complainant had a big bundle of notes on him, while they . were nearly “skint,” so they took the opportunity to rob him. The evidence was given during the hearing of depositions and statements of evidence of prosecution witnesses in a joint charge against Pauro Waata Hohepa, aged 38, a truck driver (Mr E. Bedo) and Sandra Marie Cordner, aged 33, unemployed (Mr J. S. Halls) of robbing Owen Joseph Rollet, aged 52, of about $lBOO in his city motel unit.

Messrs M. B. Hayes and V. C. Empson, Justices of the Peace, held there was sufficient evidence to commit the two defendants for trial.

They were remanded to December 7, pending trial in the High Court. Both were granted renewed bail of $5OOO, with two sureties of $5OOO, in each case. Counsel for both defendants reserved their defence. The two denied the joint robbery charge. Detective Sergeant C. A. MacLeod prosecuted. Prosecution evidence was given that Mr Rollet travelled to Christchurch for provisions and fencing materials, cashed two business cheques totalling $2500, and after making purchases and' paying accounts had about $lBOO on him. After booking into a motel he went to the bar of a hotel and while there saw Cordner, who he had been introduced to by a friend on his previous visit, and who he knew as Sarah, arrive with two Maori men, one of them Hohepa. He was later asked to join

their table. Later, Hohepa and Cordner left the hotel in a taxi. Mr Rollet said he finished his beer and then drove to his motel, and lay on a bed watching television.

The two defendants then entered his unit. He was surprised to see them, as they had not discussed where he was staying. He invited them to have some wine from an opened bottle.

The two sat on a bed and Hohepa asked if he could make some coffee, and went into the kitchen.

The next thing he knew he was hit on the nose and face. Something — he thought a bottle — struck him on the back of his head. The blows dazed him, and he next remembered blood gushing from his nose, and Hohepa standing over him “dishing” into the inside of his jacket.

• His wallet, which contained about $lBOO. was removed. Both defendants then left the motel. He went to the motel office and the police were called. His nose was found to be broken in two places, and he was admitted to hospital for treatment for his injuries. Cross-examined by Mr Bedo, Mr Rollet denied that he had flashed his money around in' the hotel bar, or later in his motel. He said his wallet never came out. He used money from a smaller sum in another pocket.

He said he had not invited them back to his motel for a drink. He was not expecting them at all. If he had invited them back he would have taken them in his Landrover. To Mr Halls, Mr Rollet said he carried the large amounts of money because he did not have a cheque account. Half the money was his. and half belonged to the partner he fenced with. He denied that he had given Cordner some $2O notes in the hotel.

Detective S. M. Dunn' gave evidence of questioning Cordner, who at first denied knowledge of the robbery but then said it had been on her mind since it happened. She said she and Hohepa had taken the opportunity to rob “Joe” (Mr Rollet) because he had a big bundle of notes and they were nearly skint. She said it was Hohepa's idea but she went along with it and “was just as much to blame." She said Joe told her where he was staying and tried talking her into going back with him. They entered his motel and he shouted them a wine and later Hohepa gave her a nod and walked over to Joe and asked for his wallet.

Mr Rollet stopped Hohepa from reaching his coat pocket and Hohepa slapped him across the face and told Cordner to leave. Hohepa came out shortly after. He gave her a few notes as they walked away. She said they only got $3OO. She said she did not help

Hohepa to rob Mr Rollet. She was not into violence. She told him not to do Mr Rollet any harm. Hohepa did not want to hurt Mr Rollet. but the latter struggled. When Hohepa slapped him she knew things had got out of hand.

In a written statement Cordner allegedly said Mr Rollet "let them know" he had plenty of money.

They went to the motel and were just going to ask for the money but Mr Rollet struggled when Hohepa tried to “roll” him. after Mr Rollet refused to hand over his money.

Detective B. R. Pearce gave evidence of interviewing Hohepa, who denied going to the motels with Cordner and robbing Mr Rollet.

In a written statement to the detective Hohepa allegedly said Cordner introduced her to a “pakeha” at a hotel and then suggested, after he had left, that they go to his motel as he had invited them there.

He said he must have fallen asleep in the motel and was awakened by hearing Cordner tell the man to get away from her. He gave him a “biff” and they left. Outside he saw that she- had a wallet and told her to throw it away.

He did not know she was going there to rob the man until she told him about it the next day. He thought they were going to a party.