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Court briefs 24.02.23

Friday 24 February 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National

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Court briefs 24.02.23
Cook Islands court house. CI NEWS/22010510

Jale O’Connor was nearly four times over the legal limit and driving erratically when he was stopped by police on Rarotonga.

O’Connor appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday where he entered a guilty plea to excess breath alcohol.

The court heard O’Connor was driving about 12.45am on February 19 when he was stopped by police on the Main Rd near Avarua.

A breath test showed a result of 920 micrograms per litre of breath.

O’Connor said he had been at a nightclub.

Defence lawyer Lavi Rokoika, in mitigation, made a submission for a discount based on an early guilty plea and no previous convictions.

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro said, while a high level of alcohol was recorded, a discount of 33 per cent on a maximum fine of $450 would leave him with $301 to pay plus $50 court costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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Defence lawyer Norman George sought an adjournment for Elsie Terema Boag-Elisa who is facing a charge of breaching a temporary protection order.

George sought disclosure which he said would assist in making a decision on a plea.

The matter was adjourned to April 6.

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Ngatupuna Teinakitama was convicted on a contempt of court charge on Thursday.

He had appeared in court on January 9 on a charge of burglary and was found not to be at home when police checked his address on February 20.

Police went to his place of work on February 20 where he admitted breaching his bail conditions.

The court heard it was his fourth contempt of court charge, but his first on that offence.

His first contempt conviction had been entered in 2018.

He was fined $67 plus $50 court costs.