March 24, 2023

A 31-year-old New Zealand tourist will appear at the High Court in Avarua today for sentencing before a judge.

Max Urqhart through his defence counsel Mark Short admitted to the charges of excess breath alcohol and careless driving causing injury yesterday.

He appeared before Justice of the Peace John Whitta.

The charges are in relation to a crash involving two motorcycles at Akaoa, Arorangi on Saturday morning. As a result, a motorcyclist was hospitalised due to injuries.

It was earlier reported that the defendant was interviewed, returned to Police Headquarters and breathalysed. The reading was more than double the legal limit for alcohol.

Short told the court that the defendant came to Rarotonga on holiday with his three children who have returned with his parents.

He said they hoped to settle the matter as quickly as possible therefore entering a guilty plea.

He added that Urqhart had apologised and paid for damages to the bike.

JP Whitta adjourned and transferred the case before a judge today.

------------

Ngatokorua William pleaded guilty to the charge of careless driving and excess blood alcohol.

On March 11 at Takuvaine, William had carelessly driven a motorcycle on a public road and crashed on the back road. On the same day he was tested and returned with the result of 153 milligrams of alcohol.

JP Whitta convicted and sentenced him to pay a fine of $50 for careless driving and $300 for EBA with $50 court cost for each charge. He was also disqualified from driving for the next 12 months and ordered to pay $150 for reparations on blood analysis.

------------

Viliame Sucuiwasahas been disqualified from driving for the next 18 months for the charge of excess breath alcohol.

JP Whitta was made aware that this was not Sucuiwasa’s first offence. He was convicted and further ordered to pay a fine of $450 and $50 court cost.

Senior police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo said the offence took place on March 12 at Avarua where the defendant was noticed to have been driving erratically towards Tupapa.

The breathalyser test result was 980 micrograms, almost four times over the limit of 250mcg.