A careless driving case against an ordained pastor was dismissed by the High Court due to the victim’s support and the pastor’s clean record.

An ordained pastor was discharged without conviction by Chief Justice Patrick Keane at the High Court in Avarua yesterday.

Ngatokorima Tehatitiri Joe, represented by lawyer Mona Ioane, had been charged with careless driving causing injury to a motorcycle rider on March 26^th of last year.

CJ Keane said Joe was visiting a family at Nikao on that day.

Joe, who was at the time studying at the Theological College, reversed onto the main road around 3.14 pm and failed to notice the motorcycle driver, who had to honk the horn of his bike at him.

The motorcycle driver received cuts on the left side of his knees. Joe attended to him and transported him to the hospital.

CJ Keane said when Joe was questioned, he admitted it was his fault and that he did not check if the road was clear.

He added that the victim in the case asked that Joe be discharged without conviction.

The Chief Justice said Joe was ordained on February 11^th of this year and was anxious to begin his pastoral work.

CJ Keane added that Probation Services, police, and the victim supported the consideration of discharging Joe. He further noted that Joe’s fault was minor.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Tuaine Manavaroa said the aggravating factor was that Joe was seemingly inattentive while driving as he did not wait to see if the road was clear before reversing.

However, in mitigation, Senior Sergeant Manavaroa acknowledged that this was Joe’s first offence, that he apologised, and that he transported the victim to the hospital.