Bail refused for man bitten by police dogs

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 12

Bail refused for man bitten by police dogs

Bail was refused for a man who appeared in the District Court in Christchurch yesterday charged with breaking into a house, and receiving a bicycle valued at $7OO.

Terence Rangi Whittaker, aged 31, a solo parent, appeared in court with blood-stained heavy bandages on his arms, for injuries inflicted by police dogs, at his arrest on Sunday. The duty solicitor, Mr John Halls, applied for bail, saying Whittaker needed medical attention for the “very severe” bites.

Sergeant Brian Roswell opposed bail, saying the alleged offences occurred while Whittaker was already on bail. He detailed several hearings at which he was due to appear in September, for charges including aggravated assaults, burglary and failing to appear.

Mr Halls said Whittaker acknowledged those matters, but denied failing to appear in court when required. Judge Hattaway re-

manded him in custody to August 28. No pleas were entered. ROBBERY CHARGE A man charged with the aggravated robbery of the Edgeware Europa service station on Sunday was granted bail when he appeared in Court yesterday. Craig Charles Morrison, aged 23, a costing clerk, was charged with robbing the service station of $l2O while armed with offensive weapons, namely a pair of scissors and a wooden handle. Sergeant Roswell opposed bail, saying that while Morrison had no previous offences, it was a serious charge. The duty solicitor, Mr Halls, said Morrison denied any involvement in the incident.

Judge Hattaway remanded him on bail for a pre-depositions conference on September 5, with the conditions that he reside at home and observe a curfew between 7 p.m. and 6.30 a.m. daily. ALIAS DENIED

James Keith Duncan, aged 22, a metal worker,

charged with the attempted theft and carrying an offensive weapon, was granted bail in spite of police claims of alleged offending under another name.

Sergeant Roswell opposed bail, saying the alleged offences, attempting to steal petrol, and possession of an iron bar, on August 21, were committed while Duncan was on parole after a jail term, also because of offences including failing to appear, committed under the name of Keith Andrew Davidson. The alias would have been verified by fingerprints, he said.

After the case was stood down for her to take instructions, a duty solicitor, Ms Heather Murdoch, said that Duncan remained adamant that he had never used the name Davidson, and was “concerned he doesn’t inherit Mr Davidson’s list of previous convictions.” Judge Hattaway remanded Duncan without plea, to August 28, and granted bail subject to a nightly curfew..