Court in hospital for murder case

Press, 18 April 1986, Page 4

Court in hospital for murder case

PA Rotorua Wearing pyjamas and dressing gown, and seated in a wheelchair, Ross Kameta, aged 18, showed no emotion yesterday when he appeared at a special court sitting in Rotorua Hospital charged with the murder of a traffic officer, Robin Dudding. No plea was entered on behalf of Kameta, described as an unemployed workman, of Rotoiti. Mr Dudding was allegedly shot in the head by Kameta after he was abducted from traffic duty outside Moose Lodge on April 7, when the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew, was in residence during his New Zealand visit Kameta was also charged with the attempted murder of Constable Luckie Tub Katene, of Rotorua, on the same

day. He was represented by Mr Peter Birks, of Rotorua. He was remanded without plea in custody to April 21. Counsel made no submissions. Seeking a remand, the Crown prosecutor, Mr Pat Savage, of Rotorua, said he hoped Kameta would be fit to appear in the District Court on April 21. Mr Savage said he would then apply for a further remand in psychiatric care. Judge Ross presided at the five-minute sitting in a hospital room. A court registrar, two constables, a court attendant, and the detective investigating the fatal shooting, Detective Senior-Sergeant Brian McWilliam of Tauranga, attended. Also present were the parents of the accused and four media reporters.