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11 November 2022

Confusion over reparation costs

Wednesday 20 April 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National

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Confusion over reparation costs
Cook Islands High Court. Photo: Sian Solomon/21110511

There was confusion in the Criminal Court over how much reparation needed to be paid following a motor accident.

Toom Makaua was charged with careless driving after he lost control of his scooter and swerved into a car on December 7 2021.

He pleaded guilty through his lawyer Mona Ioane to the charge in February.

The confusion about the cost stemmed from one mechanic quoting $3094 for the job and another quoting $700, which only included replacement of the windscreen of the car boot and not labour.

Justice of the Peace Georgina Keenan-Williams told the court on Tuesday last week she needed an explanation for the large price difference.

“This doesn’t help me at all,” JP Keenan-Williams said about the two quotes.

Williams adjourned the matter to May 10 to give the defence time to find out how much labour would cost for the $700 quote.

“Let's hope by the 10th of May this is all sorted,” JP Keenan-Williams said.

In February the court heard both parties at the time of incident agreed to sort out the damage caused by the crash between, and not go to the police.

However, the victim reported the case on December 11 to police “after the 24-hour period” that he was legally obligated to.

Defence lawyer Ioane then said that he was surprised his client had been charged with failing to report the incident when the other party was just as liable to do so.