Crown prosecutor Cherie Clark withdrew the charges. Clark read the victim’s impact statement detailing how the victim had attempted suicide and suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the harm inflicted on him during the time he lived with Noble in the Waikato between 1993 and 1999. The physical abuse included being punched and kicked as well as being hit with a practice taiaha, a traditional Māori weapon, and once he was struck on the top of the head with a hammer. “The impact of his abuse towards me has affected my whole life,” she read. The victim had been brought up immersed in Te Reo and Māori tikanga but now had a total disconnect from his culture as a result of Noble’s offending.
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Judge Chris Sygrove sentenced Wiremu Ripene Erueti-Brown to 10 months of supervision and ordered him to pay each of his four victims $500 reparation when he appeared in the New Plymouth District Court on Monday. (File photo)
Two passengers who were injured when their driver crashed while more than twice the legal alcohol limit say they will never again get in a vehicle with someone who has been drinking, a court heard. Wiremu Ripene Erueti-Brown appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove in the New Plymouth District Court on Monday for sentencing on two charges of causing injury while driving with excess blood-alcohol, and one each of assault and assault with a blunt instrument.
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However, the case was then transferred back to the New Plymouth District Court and Sovea was supposed to appear before Judge Gregory Hikaka on Thursday but failed to turn up for the hearing. Defence lawyer Julian Hannam appeared on instructions from Auckland-based lawyer Renee Karena and said because of Sovea’s failure to appear he could not oppose a warrant for his arrest being issued. Police prosecutor Sergeant Heath Karlson sought an arrest warrant to be issued. Hikaka granted the application.
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Chris McKay loved motorcycling and camping. He died on Waitangi Day following a crash with a truck on State Highway 3 south of Mōkau. (file photo)
Pettigrew attempted to reverse out from the pole but couldn’t. He was found to have a breath alcohol level of 794 micrograms, more than three times the legal limit of 250mcg. Defence lawyer Patrick Mooney said Pettigrew’s last conviction for drink-driving was in 2008, 12 years ago. Mooney said his client was in full time employment, could pay a large fine and accepted he would be disqualified from driving for 12 months. Police prosecutor Sergeant Heath Karlson suggested a sentence of community work could also be imposed but Mooney said Pettigrew worked some weekend shifts, which would make that difficult. Hikaka said Pettigrew’s reading of 794mcg was an awful lot.