Youth imprisoned for driving

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 4

Youth imprisoned for driving

Six months in prison was the sentence given yesterday to a youth who was earlier convicted on several charges, including one of causing the death of Patricia Timothy by carelessly using a car in Blenheim Road.

Appearing for sentence before Judge Fraser in the District Court was Douglas Robert Best, aged 18, (Mr M. J. Glue).

He had also admitted driving with an excess blood-alcohol level, driving while not licensed to do so, stealing a car valued at $7OO and the theft of a bag and track suit, valued at $9O.

Miss Timothy a front seat Eger, suffered multiple s after a car driven by Best, struck a power pole at 4.30 a.m. on August 19. She was dead on arrival at hospital. Best, who had never held a driver’s licence, suffered a fractured hip, pelvis, and jaw.

One positive factor, said Mr Glue, was that his client had not been drinking beforehand. The passenger killed was a friend of the defendant.

Although a custodial sen-

fence appeared inevitable, Mr Glue said that Best had instructed him to seek a non-custodial sentence.

In imposing sentence the Judge said such a request was inappropriate. The matters could only be dealt with by a custodial sentence.

Best was also put on probation for 12 months and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for two years.

A charge of burgling the Staveley Street premises of Salon Michelle on June 12, which he had denied, was withdrawn by the police. DRUG OFFENCES Compensation of $3460 was sought by the police department to cover the money paid out for drugs by a plainclothes officer to Reginald James Price. Price, aged 33, a sickness beneficiary, (Mr W. Rosenberg), admitted three charges of supplying a cannabis preparation, and three of selling cannabis.

Judge Fraser declined jurisdiction on the three indictable offences and committed Price in custody for sentence in the High Court on November 21.

He was convicted on the other charges and remanded to the same date.'

Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said that the charges arose out of the work of a plainclothes policeman in Christchurch.

After an initial meeting in the bar of a city hotel, transactions between the defendant and the officer took place at the defendant’s address between July and September. A search warrant was executed at Price’s address on November 1 where a set of scales, and a one-ounce weight, were found. When asked about these, Price said the scales were used to weigh letters sent to his mother, said Sergeant Caldwell.

Price also told the police he received nothing from the sales. He made them because he had been asked to, said Sergeant Caldwell. RECEIVING DENIED

A joint charge of receiving a caravan valued at $4OOO from Kevin James Lane was denied by a man and a woman.

Darryl Wayne Jack, aged 18, a labourer and Jacqueline Wendy Murray, aged 17, a shop assistant (Mr H. D.

P. Dawson), were remanded to January 17, for a defended hearing. The police say the offence took place between June 11 and November 1. DRUG CHARGES Lynley Charlene Te Au, aged 30, (Mr M. J. Knowles), was remanded for the taking of depositions on January 28, next year, on charges of selling cannabis on October 24, and possessing the drug for sale or supply on November 1. Te Au admitted charges of possessing cannabis seeds, cannabis plant, a pipe and roach clip, and cultivating cannabis. She was remanded to the same date for sentence on these charges. DRUG SALES A husband and wife who sold cannabis to an undercover policeman in a hotel, “who they thought was a friend,” were each convicted. Selwyn Waaka, aged 33, a machine operator, who sold the drug on two occasions in July was fined $5OO, and ordered to pay $9l in compensation. His wife, Judith Ann, was fined $250 and ordered to pay compensation of $35.

The compensation was on behalf of the police for cash paid for drugs. The offences took place in July. DEPOSITIONS A man facing three charges of selling cannabis in Auckland was remanded to December 18 for the taking of depositions. Bail of $3OOO was renewed for Michael Ross Allfrey, aged 23, a labourer (Mr W. F. Morgan). DRUG OFFENCES The sale of five “bullets” of cannabis for $65 to an undercover policeman led to the appearance in the dock of Nicholas James Stickings on a charge of selling the drug. Stickings admitted the offence and another of cultivating cannabis. Sergeant Caldwell said when the police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address on October 29, 26 small cannabis plants were found growing. The defendant said the cannabis was for his own use.

On both charges, he was convicted and remanded, on renewed bail, to November 22 for a probation report and sentence.