Queenstown District Court

A CARDRONA man has been sentenced to supervision for physically abusing his mother while she was the subject of a protection order.

Samuel Lance White (22), a concrete worker, defended the charge at a judgealone trial before Judge Bernadette Farnan in the Queenstown District Court on Tuesday.

Giving evidence, the complainant — White’s mother — said she was housesitting her parents’ house near Luggate on May 11 last year.

The defendant had been staying at the house for the past five or six days — against his mother’s wishes and despite him having been trespassed from the property — after getting permission from his grandparents.

Ms White said she and her

cousin were preparing the house for sale, and the defendant had refused to cooperate with her to do various chores around the house.

He was being increasingly ‘‘argumentative, aggressive and abusive’’ towards her, Ms White said.

He continued to behave that way after her daughter arrived at the house and made an effort to calm him down.

He became increasingly agitated when told her daughter was not prepared to drive him to Wanaka as he wanted, and as a result, he then threatened to shoot her, her daughter and cousin.

Knowing her father had several firearms in the house, she became anxious and rang the police, but her son ‘‘jumped’’ on

her, grabbed the phone and ended the call.

He then locked her and her daughter out of the house, although her cousin remained inside.

Two armed officers arrived from Wanaka about 15 minutes later, arresting White and taking her father’s firearms away.

Under crossexamination by the defendant’s lawyer, Liam Collins, she said she could not recall whether White had made one or several threats to kill them.

When asked why her daughter had not driven the defendant to Wanaka as he had asked, she said they should not have had to ‘‘drop everything for Sam’’ when they were so busy.

Judge Farnan said she was satisfied by Ms White’s evidence

the defendant abused her verbally and physically.

That abuse had come about because of a dispute between White and his mother about chores she had asked him to do.

She did not accept the defendant had not referred to, or made minimal reference to, the firearms known to be in the house while threatening his mother.

She convicted him and sentenced him to six months’ supervision for counselling and treatment for anger issues.

Failed to pay

Sasha Alexander Lafaki (30), carpet layer, of Shotover Country, was convicted and sentenced by Judge Farnan on charges of stealing a taxi security camera belonging to Queenstown Taxis, valued at $250, fail

ing to pay a $40 taxi fare, both on November 22 last year; and stealing petrol from NPD Frankton on December 20.

Prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin said Lafaki was drunk and had no money when he caught a cab from Shotover St to the Hilton hotel in Kawarau Falls.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the defendant argued with the driver about the fare, then grabbed the security camera and ran away.

On December 20, he got fuel at the petrol station and drove off without paying.

Judge Farnan convicted Lafaki on all charges and sentenced him to six months’ supervision for counselling, and ordered him to pay reparation of $1112.62 to Queenstown Taxis, and $500 to the taxi driver

for emotional harm.

He must also pay $80 reparation to NPD Frankton.

Sentenced

Julian Witana Murray (45), scaffolder, of Invercargill, was convicted and sentenced on charges of driving while disqualified (third or subsequent conviction), on July 12 last year in Queenstown; using obscene language, on May 7 last year in Stanley St, Queenstown, and disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence, on March 17 last year in the foyer of Stratton House, Beach St, in Queenstown.

He was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work, which can be converted to training, and disqualified from driving for 12 months.