Race-fixing charges denied by harness industry figures
Several harness racing industry figures are denying fraud conspiracy charges alleging race fixing and electing trial by jury.
Not guilty pleas were entered before Judge Raoul Neave at a Christchurch District Court session yesterday where 12 defendants arrested in the Operation Inca investigation made appearances.
Bail conditions were relaxed as well, with the consent of the police prosecutor Barnaby Hawes. Passports can be returned to the defendants and they now only have bail conditions requiring them to live at specified addresses. All are on bail.
Those who pleaded not guilty were remanded to a Crown case review hearing on March 25, but the cases will also be reviewed before then, on December 5.
Several of those charged were refused interim suppression at a session before Judge Neave on September 11 but the order has been continued while they file appeal applications in the High Court. Those appeals are due to be filed on October 9 and the suppressions will continue until the hearings.
A separate court sitting was arranged to deal with 12 of the Operation Inca defendants. A 13th man, Brent Wall, is appearing in Palmerston North.
Three men aged 26, 35, and 71 are still to enter pleas on race fixing charges.
Suppression was granted to one additional defendant, aged 50, who had been refused earlier but was appealing. He faces one race fixing charge. It means suppression will continue to March 25. Four new charges – three race fixing and one of possessing ecstasy tablets for supply – were laid against a man, aged 29, who already faced two charges of offering to supply the drug.
Another man, Andrew Douglas Stuart, 41, of Loburn, pleaded not guilty to three race fixing charges and elected trial by jury. He has never had look like that, it’s not about anything other than having to win. The expectations are that we win every test match and if we win them we have to win them well,’’ he said.
‘‘Nothing will change for us. We have to make sure we hit the track on Saturday [Sunday NZ time] in a frame of mind that will help us to present ourselves the best we can.’’
Hansen sensed the buoyant mood in South Africa coming through when he was asked if this was his team’s most pressured match for a while given they suffered the upset in Wellington. ‘‘The All Blacks live in a constant place of pressure to win. It’s interesting you guys were writing the Boks off and now you’re starting to write us off, which is quite good.’’
Hansen praised the Springboks’ win against the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
‘‘It was physical and again South Africa defended well and took every opportunity that came their way. They have obviously got a lot of confidence out of the win in Wellington and that is showing on the park.’’
Steve Hansen on the All Blacks
Latest world rugby rankings:
suppression and although the issue was raised by defence counsel Chris McVeigh QC, Judge Neave declined to grant it. That decision is not being appealed.
Nigel Raymond McGrath, a 44-year-old horse trainer from Rolleston, facing one race fixing charge, has pleaded not guilty and elected trial. He got the same remand and suppression was also refused. He is not appealing.
Some defendants have been remanded without plea to the review on December 5 on charges, which cannot be reported in detail. Charges which can be reported include offering or supplying ecstasy.