25km chase counts

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 6

25km chase counts

A man involved in a highspeed chase through city streets over a distance of 25 kilometres in which a Ministry of Transport vehicle was extensively damaged, was convicted on charges of driving with an excess blood-alcohol level and reckless driving in the District Court yesterday. Appearing before Judge Paterson was Michael John Maffey, aged 27, a moulder, who admitted the offences which took place on the night of March 20. He was remanded on bail of $lOOO to May 1 for sentence. Detective Sergeant D. M. Quested said a Ministry of Transport patrol noticed a car, being driven by the defendant, travelling at high speed down Marshland Road toward the city. The vehicle failed to stop for the Ministry of Transport police officers, and was pursued at speeds of up to 130 km/h along city streets. In Kilmore Street, a oneway street, oncoming cars

had to take evasive action.

During the chase a Ministry of Transport vehicle ran off the road and was extensively damaged. Eventually the defendant’s vehicle crashed into some metal drums at St Johns Road and dropped into a ditch. The defendant was found to have had a breath-alcohol level of 750 mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath, said Sergeant Quested. CHARGE DENIED

A charge of assaulting a prison officer at the Christchurch Women’s Prison was denied by an inmate. Wikitoria Hauiti, aged 27, (Mr M. J. Knowles), was remanded in custody to June 12 for a defended hearing. Hauiti is charged with having committed the alleged offence on March 20. TRIAL ELECTED

On two charges of theft as a servant, a butcher was remanded at large to May 14 for the taking of deposi-

tions.. The defendant, represented by Mr T. M. Abbott, is charged with stealing $47 from his employer on March 10, and $27 on March 17.

Mr Abbott said that the charges would be vigorously denied. EXPLOSIVES CHARGE On a charge of unlawfully possessing explosives — five electric detonators — and another of possessing cannabis, Allen John Bell was remanded to May 22 for a defended hearing. Bell, aged 26, a labourer, is charged with committing the alleged offences on March 16. DEFENDED HEARING On a charge of stealing a domestic proceedings file, the property of another person, Maurice Wicks was remanded at large to June 8 for a defended hearing. Wicks, aged 60, an invalid beneficiary, is charged with committing the offence on or about August 1, last year.