Truck driver to pay $3470

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 39

Truck driver to pay $3470

PA Auckland A 34-year-old truck driver who drove his car into the public bar of the Waiuku Country Club but was adjudged too drunk to have intended damaging the building has been ordered to pay for the damage. The driver, Joseph Henry Taupo, of Waiuku, was ordered by Judge Browne in the District Court at Otahuhu to pay $3470 for repairs to the club. Taupo was found to have driven into the bar on May 11 after a trial in the District Court at Pukekohe. But Judge Graham acquitted Taupo of wilfully causing damage to the club. Taupo was also acquitted of threatening to kill the club’s manager, Mr William Hol, and escaping from the lawful custody of Constable N. D. J. Butcher. A charge of threatening to kill a club doorman, Mr R. G. Dennis, was also dis-

missed. Judge Graham ruled Taupo was too drunk to have the necessary intent to commit the offences. Taupo was subsequently charged with drunken and dangerous driving in the country club’s car-park. He pleaded guilty in the District Court at Pukekohe on November 12 and appeared in the Otahuhu Court for sentence. Judge Browne told Taupo: ’’You are the one that caused the damage and you are the one that is going to pay for it.” He ordered Taupo to pay $3470 in weekly instalments for repairs to the club. He ' also disqualified Taupo from driving for two years. Taupo was sentenced to six months’ periodic detention and placed on probation for 18 months. He was also ordered to have counselling.