‘Saddest’ sentencing of one-eyed getaway driver in Te Kūiti court
Despite having just one eye, Bryan Knapp was “the best getaway driver”.
At least that’s what he told police after he crossed the centre line and smashed head on into another vehicle. That led to his arrest after what was described at Te Kūiti District Court yesterday as a “spree” of ram raids.
Appearing for sentencing after earlier guilty pleas to three charges of burglary, failing to stop, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, cannabis possession and a number of wilful damage charges, Judge Noel Cocurullo said he did not want to send the 18-year-old to jail.
He told the court that it would be his “saddest sentence” this week, but revealing the extent of Knapp’s offending he said “he tied my hands”.
“He’s done three ram raid burglaries and done massive amounts of damage. What message am I sending to the Te Kūiti community if I send him home?”
“The community down here will be sickened and saddened.”
Knapp’s lawyer said his client was due credit for his young age and early guilty pleas, and offered some explanation for the offending.
“Testosterone, and other hormones, took over and he panicked in the car chase. He thought he was a good driver, but he obviously wasn’t.”
The court heard Knapp lost one eye at the age of two, and grew up with “a lot of cultural deprivation in his childhood”.
“A father in jail doesn’t exactly help him either,” his lawyer said.
Judge Cocurullo said a significant amount of premeditation went into the three ram raids, and they had caused damage valued at just over $26,000. He repeated his concern that jailing such a young offender would simply put him on the path to further offending, and jail spells, but also reiterated “hasn’t he tied my hands with the offending”.
He jailed Knapp for two years and two months, prompting screams of “my brother, my brother” from Knapp’s sister Rena Knapp, outside the court.
Making it something of a family affair, Rena Knapp had appeared earlier on charges of failing to stop, dangerous driving, wilful damage, resisting police and being unlawfully in a building.
Her lawyer said she faced new charges of obtaining by deception, entering guilty pleas to all. She appeared to be a familiar face for Judge Cocurullo too.
“Have you cut any music for Spotify yet?” he asked her. “It feels like I’m the only one, with your lawyer, trying to keep you out of jail,” he said.
“Apparently you’re great at music... I do not want you doing gang signs out of a car... driving intoxicated... ripping people off. I want to listen to your music on Spotify.” Judge Cocurullo stood the matter down to enable Knapp to speak to her lawyer.
Warrick John Smith was facing one charge of assault on a person in a family relationship. His lawyer entered a guilty plea on her client’s behalf, but noted “the facts are disputed”.
“He denied grabbing her around the collar and pushing his fist into her neck,” she said. “Any form of punching he denies.”
She said that given the effect it would have on sentencing, “punching versus pushing is extremely different”. Judge Cocurullo seemed to agree. “Given the context of the dispute it’s significant.” He set a next appearance date of June 12.
Harry Tutata Matengaro Hetet appeared to enter a guilty plea to charges of excess breath alcohol and driving contrary to a zero alcohol licence, getting four months’ home detention and a driving disqualification for one year and one day.
A no-show for Kohatu Rua Apaapa-knap, facing one charge of driving while disqualified, saw a warrant for his arrest issued.
Another no-show was Stephen Codye Sanders, facing charges of breaching release conditions, contravening a protection order and breaching post detention conditions.
His lawyer told the court he had emailed to say he would not be present as “a person in his household has tested positive for Covid”.
According to the court probation order, Covid was also used by Sanders to miss a recent Hamilton court date too.
Issuing a warrant for his arrest, Judge Cocurullo noted that when it came to Covid-19 restrictions, “I don’t think that’s the rule any more”.
A warrant to arrest was also issued for
Nathan Stanley Reardon, facing charges of burglary, wilful damage and committing a threatening act.