Brad Pitt prop in court case
WhenisanAK47notanAK47?
When it’s a prop gun from the Brad Pitt movie Fury.
The unusual issue of Hollywood props cropped up at the unlikely venue of Tokoroa District Court yesterday with the appearance of Daniel Atkins, who faced charges of assault with intent to injure and wilful damage.
His lawyer told the court police had agreed to amend the assault charge to assault on a person in a family relationship, and that her client would not enter guilty pleas to both.
Judge Greg Hollister-Jones set a sentence date of July 3 for Atkins, then asked about a reference in his files to an ‘AK47’.
“A prop from the movie Fury,” Atkins lawyer told the court.
“Had been checked by an armoury and deemed in condition not to fire.”
Unfortunately, how the prop from a 2014 Brad Pitt WWII movie came to be in Tokoroa remains unknown. In the film Pitt wielded a German StG44 weapon, which looks similar to the AK47. Contravening a protection order landed
Ashley Quinn his day in the dock, entering a guilty plea via his lawyer.
Judge Hollister-Jones described Quinn’s offending as being at the lower end of the spectrum.
“Following the victims vehicle and handing over some eggs, which she did not appreciate,” he said.
“It’s at the lower end.”
He told Quinn “stay out of trouble completely for the next 12 months, this is over”.
Quinn replied “ahh, sweet”, but then sought some clarification.
“This any kind of trouble?”
Judge Hollister-Jones referenced some drink drive “issues” for Quinn, but seemed to take the clarification request in good humour.
“You’re knocking on 40, you should be able to use your brain and stay out of trouble.”
A change of heart from Judge Hollister-Jones saw Bodein Craig initially sentenced to 80 hours community work, before that got swapped out for $2000 in fines plus $130 in court costs.
Appearing on charges of possession of methamphetamine and unlawfully carrying a firearm, his lawyer entered guilty pleas to both.
He said his client had no addiction issues, “as far as he’s concerned”, and that the drugs were for personal use.
He also said the ammunition was left over from a friend’s hunting trip.
Judge Hollister-Jones said the ammunition “tips the matter into community work”, before back tracking and fining Craig.
Christopher Booth appeared facing charges of assault on a person in a family relationship and wilful damage.
Judge Hollister-Jones granted Booth’s lawyers request for a remand without plea and set a next appearance date of May 28.
Shoplifting, breaching community work and intensive supervision landed Kahumiria Awa her day in the dock, entering guilty pleas.
She will be sentenced on June 20. Facing one charge of assault on a person in a family relationship, James Habib appeared via audiovisual link with his lawyer vacating an earlier not guilty plea for a plea of guilty.
Habib is set to be sentenced on June 20.
Karrol-Ann Jones appeared facing charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm and possession of cannabis for supply.
Her lawyer told the court she would plead guilty to both, but also requested time to discuss the summary of facts with police.
“I just need to tidy up some of what happened when,” she said.
Her lawyer also requested a pre-sentence report, noting of her client is “of an age you’ve got to wonder what made her make the decisions she made”.
Judge Hollister-Jones set a sentence date of July 3, telling Jones “all options open in terms of sentence”.
Guilty pleas were also entered on behalf of Jamie Stanley-Wallace on charges of burglary, possession of methamphetamine utensils and possession of cannabis.
He was released on bail ahead of sentencing on June 20.