Bail sought in High Court on shooting charge

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 4

Bail sought in High Court on shooting charge

Bail will be sought in the High Court by counsel acting for a man who in the District Court yesterday was remanded in custory for 3y 2 months for the taking of depositions on a charge relating to a shooting incident in Linwood last Friday.

Because it involved a gang confrontation, and because of the seriousness of the alleged offence, Judge Bisphan “in the public interest" refused bail for Robert Francis Lindsay James, aged 25, a supervisor. James (Mr Erno Bedo) is charged with wounding Robert Tako Tui Sadlier on February 14, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. The charge relates to the shooting of a Mongrel Mob member. Sadlier, aged 25, is reported to be in a satisfactory condition in Burwood Hospital. He was hit twice in the legs by shots fired from a pump-action shotgun. Bail was opposed by Sergeant G. C. Jones. He said that no earlier date was available for the depositions hearing. If the court saw fit to grant bail police sought a “sizeable"

surety and daily reporting by the accused. Mr Bedo, in seeking bail, said substantial sureties were available. He said James had voluntarily gone to the police when he heard they were looking for him. HEROIN CHARGES

Three men and a woman facing charges of manufacturing heroin were each remanded in custody to Friday. They are Eru Lucien Hall, aged 34, a car wrecker (Mr Bedo); Stephen Frank Coward, aged 35, a sickness beneficiary (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon); Christopher James Mead, aged 20, unemployed; and Susan Mary Birbeck, aged 24, also a sickness beneficiary (Mr P. B. H. Hall). The Judge was told that a depositions date should be available on Friday. Bail was opposed for each of the accused.

Wayne George Hammond, aged 31, unemployed, was granted bail “rather reluctantly” by Judge Bisphan. Hammond, who is charged with permitting his Warrington Street address to be used for

heroin manufacture, was given self bail of $2OOO with two sureties of $2OOO. BENEFIT PROBLEM A sickness beneficiary brandishing a sheath knife in the Social Welfare Department office told a clerk that if he did not get all his benefit, there and then, "He would have somebody’s head,” said Sergeant Jones. Victor Edward Charles Chantlier, aged 32 (Mr R. S. Peters), told the police he was “sick of the muckup” over his benefit. Chantlier admitted unlawfully possessing an offensive weapon on February 13. He was convicted and remanded on bail of $lOOO to March 4 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Jones said the defendant pulled the knife from his belt and waved it about after being told by a clerk he could have only a portion of his benefit the balance being available to him later in the day. ROBBERY CHARGE Christine Maree Ropiha, aged 27, a solo mother (Mr M. J. Knowles), was remanded on renewed bail of $4OOO

to February 25 on a charge of robbery. I She is charged, with others, of robbing a man 1 of $llO cash, and other household items, valued at $3OOO, on February 3. Mr Knowles said a depositions date should be available on the next court appearance of his • client. Richard Heuheu Moses, aged 27, a bushman, was -; remanded in custody to ‘ February 24 on the same * Spreydon robbery charge. ' He also faces an unre- v ' lated charge of converting 1 a car in Wellington. RAPE CHARGE Scobie Koopu Albert Te ' Pooni, aged 23, a contrac- i tor, charged with the rape ’ of a woman at a Linwood address on February 3, was remanded in custody • ’ to February 24. He did not plead. 1 RAPE CHARGES Two men each charged ■ with raping a girl, aged 14, and unlawfully getting into a vehicle, on January 31, were remanded In cus- ’ ■ tody to February 24. Bail was strongly opposed for Tiki Te Pooni, ' aged 24, unemployed, and ' Joseph Chase, aged 18, also unemployed. 1