Burglary charges involve $20,000

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 13

Burglary charges involve $20,000

Two men jointly charged with burgling a house in Flower Street have been remanded in custody after Sergeant G. C. Jones said further charges were pending against the pair, involving property valued at $20,000.

Paul Wyatt Harding, aged 22, a drainlayer, and Brian John Foster, aged 23, unemployed, appeared before Judge Bisphan in the District Court yesterday. They were remanded to August 15, without plea. They are charged with committing the burglary on Wednesday. Bail was opposed by Sergeant Jones. MULTIPLE CHARGES

Bail of $7500 was continued for a man facing a number of charges relating to the burglary of a Riccarton Road shop from which weapons valued at $20,000 were stolen.

Mark Peter Rapana, aged 23, unemployed (Mr M. J. Knowles), is charged with stealing a $5500 vehicle, the property of Peter Townsend; selling four shotguns to an unauthorised person; unlawfully possessing 12 shotguns and four .22 calibre rifles; possessing four needles for the purpose of injecting drugs; and receiving a $l6OO stereo, the property of AVM Electronics.

Rapana faced a new charge yesterday of wilfully setting fire to a 1967 truck, valued at $5500, the property of Peter Townsend, in that he aided and abetted in the commission of the offence. The police say the alleged offences occurred between July 27 and 31. CUSTODY

After admitting charges

of escaping from Sunnyside Hospital and eight charges of false pretence Ashley Stephen Goodman was convicted and remanded in custody to August 16 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant Jones said the eight false pretence offences involved the defendant’s hiring taxis which he used for journeys round Christchurch and to go to Rangiora, Sumner, and Riccarton without paying the fares. He was taken to the Cen-

tral Police Station in a taxi on July 20 after hiring a vehicle to take him to Timaru on the basis that his father would pay the driver when the taxi arrived.

Compensation of $3lB in respect of the unpaid fares was sought. Goodman escaped from Sunnyside Hospital on July 27 in the company of another person. He was apprehended two days later, said Sergeant Jones. ROBBERY CHARGE

Anthony Paul Curtis, aged 29, unemployed, was remanded to September 17 for a defended hearing on a charge of robbery. Curtis is charged, with another person, with robbing Walt Lawrence Bradley of a billfold and $55 cash on July 23. ROBBERY CHARGE

A man charged with robbing another man of $lO was further remanded in custody, without plea, to August 15. Clinton Joseph Tonihi, aged 22 (Mr K. J. Grave), was originally charged with robbing a man in such a manner as to cause him grievous bodily harm. On the application of the police the charge was amended to one of simple robbery. DAMAGE ALLEGED On a charge of intentionally damaging 14 windows in five properties, and estimated to cost about $5OOO to replace, John William Powell, aged 17, unemployed, was remanded to August 15. Powell (Mr E. Bedo), who did not plead, is charged with committing the five offences on August 2. Bail was set at $l5OO.