Ten charged after dawn police raid

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 5

Ten charged after dawn police raid

A dawn raid by police on a number of Christchurch addresses led to 10 persons appearing before Judge Fogarty in the District Court yesterday afternoon. The 10 — nine men and a woman — faced a total of 24 charges the majority involving drugs. Their appearance was the result of the activities of an undercover policeman in Christchurch and Invercargill earlier this year. Milton Wayne Pettigrew, aged 29. a mechanic, was remanded in custody to November 17 after bail had been strongly opposed by Sergeant M. P. Caldwell. Pettigrew faces two charges of selling cannabis, one charge of offering to sell the drug, and a charge of receiving stolen property valued at $6600. The nine other defendants were remanded to various dates on bail ranging between $5OO to $6OOO. They are: Raymond Thomas Graham, aged 32, a builder, on five charges of selling cannabis, who was remanded to December 9 for the taking of depositions; Dudley James Lester, aged 23, a service station attendant, cultivating cannabis and offering to sell the drug, remanded to November 19; Reginald Keith Lilley, aged 30, a mechanic, selling cannabis. to November 19; Leonie Faye Pope, aged 20, a solo mother, receiving a bicycle, valued at $2OO, re-

manded to November 19; lan Stewart, aged 26, a labourer, three, charges of selling cannabis, was remanded to December 8 for the taking of depositions; Charles Edward Robbie, aged 35, a barman, two charges of selling cannabis. remanded to November 19; Edward George Sullivan. aged 36, receiving a stolen television set, valued at $950, remanded to November 20; Roger Paul Griffiths, aged 29, an art director, selling cannabis, to November 18; and Leslie James Smith, aged 32, two charges of selling cannabis and one of cultivating the drug, remanded to January 19 for the taking of depositions. $250 FINES William Moni Taumauni, aged 27, a gardener, was fined $250 when he appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting Richard Wiki with intent to injure him. Taumauni, who admitted the offence which occurred in the waiting room adjacent to the No. 1 courtroom on November 4, was also put on probation for 18 months and ordered to live and work where directed. Taumauni pulled a sheath knife out and struck Wiki two blows with it. As a result Wiki was taken to hospital for treatment to his hand and left ear. Stitches were required to the hand wound. The Judge said assault with intent to injure was a serious matter. What made it

worse was that it occurred in the precincts of the Court. Counsel (Mr D. J. Taffs) said his client did not stab the complainant. Although Wiki was cut he was not stabbed so much as sliced. DAMAGE CHARGES' An office manager, aged 37, charged with wilfully damaging an acrylic painting, valued at $490, denied the alleged offence. Julian Harrington Haselden (Mr P. H. B. Hall) was remanded at large to January 20 for a defended hearing. The painting, the property of Ashley Smith, is alleged to have been damaged in the Windsor Gallery in High Street on November 10. FURTHER REMAND A housewife charged with stealing $ll,OOO in cash, the property of a Christchurch school committee, was further remanded to November 26. The further remand was sought bv counsel (Mr K. N. Hampton) because inquiries into the alleged offence were continuing. He said his client, aged 36, who was granted continued interim suppression of her name, would defend the charges. Mr Hampton said the case would probably be heard before a judge and jury. The alleged .offence took place between Februrary 2. 1980, and July 30, 1981. It relates to a school “housie" programme.

Bail of $l5OO was also renewed. ESCAPE CHARGES A man facing a charge of attempting to escape from police custody on November 4, was remanded in custody to December 3 for the taking of depositions. Barry John Wiki, aged 28, unemployed (Mrs P. Gibson) also faces an additional charge of attempting to escape from' Addington Prison on October 20. No pleas were entered by Wiki who appeared handcuffed in the dock. SIX CHARGES A man facing two charges of burglary, involving safes and $6OOO, was further remanded in custody to November 19. David Andrew Neale, aged 24. unemployed (Mr D. J. Taffs) is alleged to have burgled the premises of the Canterbury Building Society at Hornby Mall and in Colombo Street about October 1. Two new charges were laid yesterday. These allege that Neale was in the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun, about October 9, and that on September 17 he received 20 gold chains, not exceeding $2500 in value from Dale William O’Shea: Neal is also charged with cultivating cannabis and with possessing cannabis seeds. No pleas were entered to any of the six charges. An application for bail by Mr Taffs was refused.