Four years jail for P.O. robber

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 27

Four years jail for P.O. robber

Within 10 days of having robbed the Hampshire Street Post Office of $2031 at knife point, an intellectually handicapped alcoholic drug addict had spent the lot on liquor and drugs, Mr Justice Holland was told in the High Court yesterday. This type of crime was prevelant and when committed by a drug addict of limited intellect wielding a knife, the danger was immense, said his Honour. Haimena Albert Katene, aged 20, unemployed, was jailed for four years less one month on a charge of aggravated robbery. He had pleaded guilty. About 1.50 p.m. on August 12 Katene went into the Hampshire Street Post Office, pulled a balaclava over his head, leapt the counter and grabbed the woman teller by the throat. He held a knife to her throat and ordered her to put the contents of the money down the front of his jacket. He jumped back over the counter and fled. The teller suffered bruising and cuts to her arms resulting from the struggle with Katene rather than from any deliberate action on his part. He admitted the robbery

when interviewed on August 26, and said that he had no intention of harming the teller. On August 15 Katene broke into Rikki’s Market in Hampshire Street, the police statement said. For Katene, Mr Paul McMenamin said that his client was not vicious and injuries inflicted were by accident. The offence occurred when he was depressed after the breakdown of a de facto relationship. Counsel asked . that his client’s limitations be taken into account. Mr Justice Holland said that because of Katene’s background there could be little confidence in his future without substantial changes in his attitude, but that was difficult because of his limitations. For many years Katene had been dependent on alcohol and drugs which had led to his repeated offending. Attempts had been made to assist him but without success. He had far too little motivation to change. While his counsel said that he was not violent, any person who armed himself with a knife to hold up a woman in a Post Office could cause serious injury if not death, his Honour said.