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Defendant facing raft of charges ‘out of control’

Monday 29 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National

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Defendant facing raft of  charges ‘out of control’

A man facing multiple contempt of court charges has again been described by his lawyer as “out of control”.

Tutai Junior Amiri faces a raft of charges due to a sudden spate of offending, most recently on May 23 when he was charged with two counts of contempt of court for breaching his bail conditions, seen in public after 7pm, and for consuming alcohol.

His lawyer Norman George said Amiri had a habit of “coming to court every week”.

George asked that all matters be adjourned for sentencing, as his client needed to travel to New Zealand to be with his family, his child would undergo surgery in July.

“He is out of control, his family back in New Zealand wants to get it sorted.”

George suggested that a probation report be ordered, but one was already being prepared.

The matter was adjourned to May 31 for sentencing and a request made that the probation report be available.

Amiri appeared in court on May 18 when a Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro expressed surprise at his sudden spate of offending.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of contempt of court for an incident in May.

However, JP Taoro noted he had two other charges of contempt of court, and two charges of driving with excess breath alcohol.

All five of the charges occurred within the past two months. He had pleaded guilty to all of them.

At the time, Amiri’s father spoke in support, saying that Amiri acknowledged the offending. Amiri’s father recommended taking away Amiri’s driver’s licence.

JP Taoro told Amiri she was amazed at the amount of offending he had done recently.

He also appeared in court on May 11 when he entered guilty pleas to multiple drink driving offences.

On that day he faced two charges of excess breath alcohol and two of contempt of court.

“I’ve never seen a defendant counsel so harassed by someone who keeps offending,” lawyer Norman George said at the time.

“I’m not happy with him calling me on weekends with this drinking; his drinking is out of control.”