Name causes confusion

Press, 15 April 1987, Page 3

Name causes confusion

PA Auckland The Crown prosecutor said he could not tell one accused named Kahui from another, the Judge remarked there seemed to be confusion, and the prisoner was adamant he was not meant to be in court for sentence at all.

Roger Tira Kahui, aged 17, unemployed, of Pukekohe, was to be sentenced yesterday in the High Court at Auckland on 11 charges of unlawfully taking and interfering with cars, possession of an offensive weapon, breaking and entering,

and attempted burglary.

“I never did it; those aren’t my charges,” said the Kahui in the dock. “I’m meant to be going to court for a depositions hearing for aggravated robbery.” Mr Justice Wylie: What’s your name? The prisoner: Kelly Kahui, I know the other man. We’re always getting mixed up in our prison visits.

His Honour: It appears we have the wrong man. There is obviously some confusion somewhere.

The Crown prosecutor, Mr Stevan Cole, said he

was unable to help. He could not tell the one accused named Kahui from the other.

A prison officer told the Court there was in Mount Eden Prison another Kahui who had a “court” name and a “prison” name which he had altered recently. His Honour said, “The registrar tells me he has been sentenced to six months imprisonment on other charges, that is, the proper Kahui.” The proper Kahui would be sentenced on the charges before the court on April 28, he said.