Crime
Driving case finally ends
Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Careless driving saga comes to conclusion after a year Justice Tom Weston presided over a case yesterday, which has been in and out of court for over a year. Last March, Greer Solomon was charged with careless driving causing injury and failure to stop and ascertain following a motor vehicle crash. Yesterday, she appeared in […]
Weston to hear question of the Toa multi-million dollar profit guarantee
Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Government has decided to fight against having to honour a $1.2 million eight-year profit guarantee agreement it made with fuel distributor Apex Agencies last December. Apex Agencies’ application to have the court declare the second part of the multi-million dollar settlement will be heard this Wednesday and Thursday in the High Court before Justice Tom […]
Tepaki in civil court
Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Crime
The Richard Fisher v Tepaki 1 Holdings Limited case appeared before Judge Weston in the Cook Islands High Court this week. The civil suit traces back to September, when Peddle Thorp & Montgomery applied for the liquidation of Tepaki 1 Holdings Limited after the company had failed to repay a debt. At the same time, […]
Court deals with assault, theft, wilful damage
Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over a number of cases in the high court this week: Tevai Teono – pleaded guilty to an assault on a female charge. Kenning adjourned the matter to April 29 in order to allow time for the prosecution to file a victim impact report and a probation report. […]
Barrowman's friends and family restless
Tuesday 13 April 2010 | Published in Crime
For friends and family of the late Duncan Barrowman, the Paul Williams saga seems to have reached a standstill. Those who knew the 43-year-old rugby player are getting restless. Williams was charged with manslaughter after fatally striking Barrowman, who was on the island for a Golden Oldies tournament, with his truck in Tupapa last May. […]
JP grants 5 name suppressions
Monday 12 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Name suppression was a contentious issue this week in the high court. Justice of the peace Tiki Matapo granted five requests from counsel Norman George for name suppression despite objections from crown law. A man with name suppression appeared for a call-over on an indecent assault charge. Catherine Evans of crown law said that the […]
Possession of firearm among many court cases
Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Crime
JP Bernice Manarangi presided over the following cases in the High Court last week: Danny Cook – pleaded guilty to charges of excess blood alcohol, driving without a licence, dangerous driving causing injury and dangerous driving causing death. Counsel Tim Arnold asked that the case be adjourned as it involves a “serious issue” which is […]
George says he was a 'target to blame'
Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Lawyer Norman George, still in the hot seat, has asked counsel Tim Arnold to represent him for the remainder of the Slush trial. “Consequent upon Mr Vaile’s discharge, Mr George approached me to seek assistance in terms of what would otherwise be an awkward taking of evidence of both himself and various family members and […]
23 cases dealt with this week
Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over 23 cases in the high court yesterday, many of which were adjourned because lawyer Norman George was tied up with his own Operation Slush trial. James Tai Herman – did not appear for call-overs on common assault and assault with intent to injure charges. “The defendant has […]
Slush back in court
Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Crime
George rejects Junior Areai’s evidence as ‘lies’ Norman George was back in court yesterday, riding out the last leg of the Operation Slush trial that has spanned more than a year. He was calm and composed as he fielded lawyer Tim Arnold’s questions pertaining to the seven corruption charges he still faces. George has been […]
Drink driving dominates court hearing
Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Danny Cook appeared on charges of excess breath alcohol, careless driving causing injury, careless driving causing death and driving without a licence. His father Kevin Cook appeared on behalf of defence counsel Tim Arnold, and requested that the case be adjourned until next week, pending disclosures from police. JP Taori ordered the prosecution to submit […]
Fraud, rape, burglary, assault dealt with
Friday 12 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Ina Tautu presided over 15 cases in the high court yesterday: Helen Rota – pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud. The defendant was charged with forging Westpac bank cheques for $350, $90 and $350, all signed by Takuvaine Christian Youth. She was found to have used the cheques to purchase […]
Epic Te Puna dispute settled
Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Crime
March 8 marked the end of a land dispute that has been brewing for over a century – one of the most contentious in recent history. Justice Kenneth Heta Hingston ruled this week that approximately 147 acres (sections 50A and 50B) in Takitumu belong to “the Carr group” – those directly represented by Mrs Tere […]
12 cases in court
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Dorice Reid (Te Tika Mataiapo) presided over just 12 cases in the high court this week: James Engu did not appear for call-overs on an unsound mind charge and a threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm charge. The defendant’s case was adjourned indefinitely and he will remain in custody. […]
Operation Slush not over yet
Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Crime
In the wake of Judge Colin Nicholson’s discharge rulings, Operation Slush continues to simmer. For lawyer Norman George, it’s not over yet. George was discharged from seven corruption charges last week but faces seven others. He was excused from charges that Judge Nicholson said were not supported by ‘direct’ evidence, but those charges which Nicholson […]
Nurse pleads guilty to manslaughter
Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Bernice Manarangi presided over the following cases in the high court this week: A Mitiaro woman with name suppression appeared for a call-over on a manslaughter charge. She switched the not guilty plea she filed in November to guilty through legal counsel Norman George. The woman, who is a nurse, was […]
Assault, burglary, drink driving dealt with
Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Crime
JP Ina Tautu presided over a number of cases in the Rarotonga High Court last week: Tai Herman was called for a common assault charge. The name suppression Herman was granted last month expired, and Tautu did not renew it. Herman did not appear in court as he is tied up in Aitutaki helping to […]
198 companies struck off
Thursday 18 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Almost 200 companies failed to file their annual return fees and have been struck off the Register of Companies. The Companies Act of 1970 requires a company to pay its return fees each year, and to file a form listing such details as particulars of directors and secretary, shareholders and shares, present members and persons […]
Four assault on a female cases in court this week
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Pae Tuteru presided over a number of cases in the high court this week: Emily Rima – pleaded not guilty to careless driving. Counsel Levenia Rokoika alleged that police had unlawfully approached the defendant prior to the hearing, urging her to plead guilty and pay fines, and asked that the court […]
Wilkie withdraws proceedings against Demos
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Wilkie Rasmussen has withdrawn legal proceedings against the Democratic Party after his expulsion from the party late last year. On September 10, Rasmussen, who is currently the attorney general and finance minister, filed an application for various declaratory orders declaring that the cancellation of his party membership be null and void, and of no legal […]