Alexandra District Court
A 31YEAROLD shearer who threatened to kill a woman and assaulted her has been sent to prison for a year.
Tahi Eugene Tapara, address unknown, yesterday appeared before Judge Thomas Ingram in the Alexandra District Court.
He was convicted of threatening to kill, and male assaults female, in Roxburgh on June 1.
Judge Ingram said Tapara had ‘‘three good, solid pages’’ of previous convictions, including family violence.
He told Tapara the ‘‘time had come’’ for him to make his mind up about ‘‘exactly where you want to spend the rest of your days’’.
Going to prison was not the best thing for Tapara or his family, but ‘‘the law is clear — domestic violence has to be treated seriously’’.
Judge Ingram gave Tapara credit for accepting he needed help with alcohol and drugs, and ordered him to undergo treatment as required.
DUO CRITICISED
An uncle and nephew duo with ‘‘significant form’’’ were told to ‘‘get their act together boys’’ after a ‘‘dumb’’ burglary in Alexandra.
Jason Allan Blondell (38), farmer, of East Gore, and his nephew, Kelvin Thomas James Blondell (18), farmhand, of Alexandra, were convicted of entering a building without authority and with intent to commit an imprisonable offence, in Alexandra, on June 7.
The pair had broken into the Alexandra Four Square Supermarket at 1.25am, Jason smashing the glass in the front door and Kelvin kicking it further. The pair removed a metal bar from the door and Kelvin entered the shop, while Jason acted as lookout.
They took 24 bottles of beer from the chiller and caused about $2000 damage.
Both were intoxicated at the time and initially denied the offending, later admitting it. Judge Ingram said the pair had ‘‘significant form’’, and said they should be paying more than the business’ insurance excess from the offending.
‘‘Why should the rest of us who pay insurance pay for these clowns’’.
He told the pair to ‘‘get their act together boys, this is ridiculous’’. The pair were remanded until September 24 for sentence.
LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS
A Central Otago company director who took the law into his own hands at his business received a suspended sentence.
James Barry Adams (68), of Ranfurly, was convicted of behaving in a threatening manner that was likely to cause violence to start in Ranfurly on May 4.
Judge Ingram suppressed the name of Adams’ business, and said Adams had been ‘‘trying to nip violence in the bud’’ when dealing with a troublesome patron, but did so ‘‘inappropriately’’.
The patron had grabbed a baseball bat in the business, then Adams grabbed it and a struggle ensued. Adams pushed the vic tim back with the bat.
Judge Ingram said Adams had been ‘‘dealing with a difficult situation that most people wouldn’t have been able to handle’’, but that ‘‘taking the law into your own hands will get you into trouble’’, and told Adams to ring police in future.
Adams received a 12month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $130 court costs.
BROKE GLASS
An Alexandra man who broke the glass on a defibrillator was ordered to make a donation to St John.
Marshall James Penny (19), driller, was charged with committing a criminal nuisance by doing an unlawful act, namely breaking the glass on an automated external defibrillator and throwing away the key, in Alexandra on May 31.
Judge Ingram called the offence the ‘‘dumbest thing I can imagine’’, and ordered Penny to pay $165.95 to St John.
OTHER CONVICTIONS
Carl Anthony Buchanan (26), labourer, of Cromwell, injuring in circumstances that had death ensued he would have been guilty of manslaughter, Cromwell, July 24. Ordered to pay $1500 reparation.
Chanel Te Atiwhai Demalmanche (23), of Reefton, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, December 16, 2017. Ordered to pay $600 reparation to the victims, and pay back $10,000 to the affected insurance company at $50 per week. On a charge of being an unlicensed driver failing to comply with prohibition, convicted and discharged.
Samual James Tohiroa Few (26), roofer, of Cromwell, breaching a protection order (texting), Cromwell, between July 710. Sentenced to 80 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision, and ordered to undergo counselling and treatment as directed. Darrell Wayne Cavanagh (51), cleaner, of Lake Roxburgh Village, possession of cannabis, and possession of cannabis oil, Greymouth, September 22, 2016. Sentenced to nine months’ supervision.
Stradoss Rakete (27), roofer, of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 902mcg, and failing to stop for police, Dunedin, June 2. Fined $850, court costs $260, disqualified from driving for six months and having an alcohol interlock disqualification.
James Lawson Prebble (39), builder, of Dalefield, drinkdriving, 728mcg, Ranfurly, July
28. Fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified six months. Guenther Georg Weigel (64), joiner, of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 600mcg, Alexandra, July
3. Fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.
Michael John Kirwood (66), of Cambrians, drinkdriving, 600mcg, Becks, July 14. Fined $300, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months. Ashleigh Erica Heads (19), of Alexandra, drinkdriving (being under 20 years of age), 204mcg, Alexandra, June 22. Fined $150, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for three months. Enoch Egypt Hawea (64), shearer, of Ranfurly, driving while disqualified (having two or more previous similar convictions), Ranfurly, June 29. Fined $150, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for 12 months from October 12.
Zig Matthew Kennedy (22), of Omakau, driving while disqualified, Dunedin, May 13. Sentenced to 60 hours’ community work.
Tiakiawa Louis Sinclair BarclayThomson (18), shedhand, of Ranfurly, driving while disqualified, Ranfurly, July 12. Sentenced to 60 hours’ community work.
Bobbie Michael Tamis (28), painter, of Roxburgh, driving while disqualified (having at least two or more similar convictions), Roxburgh, May 17. Sentenced to 80 hours’ community work.
Lester John Galletly (55), driver, of Alexandra, trespass, and failing to supply his name to police, Alexandra, June 29. Fined $500 and court costs $260.