Jail sentence extended

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 7

Jail sentence extended

An inmate who escaped from a painting gang at Paparua Prison last Friday had done so because his pregnant wife planned to have an abortion and he wanted to prevent it. This explanation was given by duty solicitor, Mr J. W. Appleby, in the District Court yesterday on behalf of the escaper, Shane George Whittaker, aged 24. Whittaker admitted charges of escaping from the prison on December 19, and possessing a class C controlled drug, cannabis leaf, when he was recaptured on December 22.

Judge Frampton added

six months to the prison term of two years which Whittaker is serving at present. On the drug charge Whittaker was convicted and discharged. Sergeant G. C. Jones, who prosecuted, said Whittaker escaped while in a painting gang last Friday morning. He was recaptured in the lounge bar of a Christchurch hotel on Monday evening. He had some cannabis in his possession. He told the police he escaped because he was having domestic problems with his wife.

Mr Appleby said Whittaker had said he escaped to try to prevent his wife

from having an abortion. He said Whittaker did not commit any major offences while at liberty. The cannabis had been given to him in the hotel shortly before his capture.

Whittaker was aware that as a result of his escaping he faced an additonal prison sentence. The Judge said when imposing the additional six months term that he took into account that Whittaker did not appear to have committed any other offences, apart from the drug possession. CHRISTMAS BEHIND BARS

A defendant called out “Merry Christmas” as he

walked into the Court cells to face a Christmas behind bars.

Eden George Wehi, aged 18, unemployed, faced a charge of unlawfully taking a car valued at $3OO on or about December 21. He was remanded on the charge to December 31. An application for bail during this period was refused.

The Judge noted that Wehi had been' released from prison only on December 1 after serving a sentence for a similar offence. He declined bail because of the “real possibility of further offending.”