Armed robbery charge

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 4

Armed robbery charge

A man. aged 24, charged with aggravated robbery after a chemist's shop in Burwood was held up on Monday afternoon was yesterday remanded in custody to March 11 for the taking of depositions. He appeared before Judge Paterson in the District Court. Nicholas John Shirley, a sickness beneficiary (Mr S. G. Barker) is charged that being armed with an offensive weapon he robbed Harold Rayner Mangos on February 7.

Bail was opposed by Sergeant M. P. Caldwell.’

He said that he did this because of the nature of the alleged offence, because the defendant was a known user of drugs, and because a warrant for his arrest had been issued from the District Court al Invercargill. Bail had been sought by Mr Barker. Shirley, he said, had a broken arm.

As a result of the alleged robbery a quantity of drugs was taken from the dispensary.

CUSTODY REMAND

A solo mother found by police in a chemist’s shop at South Brighton early yesterday told police she had earlier had an argument with a friend and “wanted to die.”

Christina Rose Haney, aged 25, was convicted and remanded in custody to February 15 for a probation report and sentence. She did not seek legal representation. Haney admitted breaking into the chemist's hop. At 12.25 a.m. yesterday police received information that the burglar alarm at the chemist's shop had been activated.

A police patrol, on arrival, found Haney in the shop. She had entered by kicking in a door.

Haney had told the police she had drunk a large

amount of whisky earlier, and had come across the chemist’s shop after driving around for a while.

She had taken a quantity of valium and mogadon tablets.

Because of this, said Sergeant Caldwell, the defendant was taken to hospital for treatment. INDENCY CHARGE

A man, aged 27, charged with indecently assaulting a girl, then aged 10. on December 17, was remanded in custody to February 15. The defendant, aged 27, who was granted interim suppression of his name, is to undergo a psychiatric assessment while in custody.

No plea was entered. FIRE BID CHARGE

A solo mother facing a charge of attempting to set fire to a house in Camden Street early yesterday was remanded without plea to February 15.

Christine Joan Matheson, aged 24, was granted bail of

COINS THEFT

A man, who broke into the Acheson Avenue Fruit Supply store, took a handful of 10-cent and 20-cent coins, to a value of $18.95. from the till said Sergeant Caldwell. George Raharaha. aged 30. a sickness beneficiary, who admitted the offence, which took place on January 31, was convicted and remanded to February 22 for a probation report and sentence.

Bail was set at $750 with two sureties, approved by the police, of the same amount. Sergeant Caldwell said that at 2.40 a.m. on January 31, Raharaha had kicked in the front window of the store when walking past a block of shops.

Raharaha had removed a box of oranges and had then climbed inside and taken the coins from the till, said Sergeant Caldwell.

The defendant said that he had been hungry and wanted something to eat.