A man facing charges of reckless and drink driving has entered a not guilty plea.

Tei John Harawira, 43, appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday where he entered not guilty pleas to drink driving and reckless driving.

His lawyer Tai Nicholas told the court his client would be entering a not guilty plea and asked for a hearing date before the matter was adjourned to May 31.

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Defence lawyer Norman George has disputed revealing the employment details of a man charged with possessing cannabis.

Renee Junior Daniel appeared before Justice of the Peace Alisha Rangi in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday.

George asked for a change to his client’s curfew details as he was now employed at a restaurant on Rarotonga.

The police prosecutor asked where the defendant was employed.

“I have good reason for not giving the name of the restaurant, a lot of my clients have lost jobs because police came to their work to interview them; no disrespect.”

George initially asked for adjournment and disclosure before requesting a change in curfew to between 12am and 6am, seven days a week.

The police prosecutor said 10.30pm rather than 12am.

“That’s the problem, we clock everything,” George replied.

“What if it’s a busy night (at the restaurant); that’s when we have a lot of unnecessary prosecution of people, what if he finishes at 10.30pm.”

“11pm is more realistic.”

Daniel also appeared on charges of unpaid fines, the first $20 for no warrant of fitness and two charges totalling $500 for not wearing a safety helmet.

There was also a contempt of court charge.

George said he would seek an adjournment without plea and told the court his client would be instructed to pay the fines.

The cannabis matter was adjourned to June 2 while Daniel was fined a further $100 for failure to pay fines and court costs of $50.

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A bench warrant was issued for a woman who has failed to turn up to court six times.

Heather Joy Webber-Aitu was due to appear in Criminal Court on Thursday charged with careless driving causing injury.

Defence lawyer Michelle Tangimama, acting on behalf of lawyer Mark Short asked for two-weeks adjournment as Short was still to follow up with the Police Commissioner on the matter.

The police prosecutor asked for a bench warrant “to make sure she appears in court”.

“Defence counsel does have disclosure.”

Tangimama did not oppose the bench warrant.

JP Rangi then issued a bench warrant.

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Another bench warrant was issued for Pomare Tapoa Punanga Pittman who failed to appear in court to answer a charge of common assault and assault with intent to injure.

“Again my apologies,” Defence lawyer Michelle Tangimama, acting on behalf of lawyer Mark Short said.

The police prosecutor said guilty pleas had been taken.

“The matter has gone on for some time,” Justice Rangi said.
A bench warrant was ordered.

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Derran Tuakeu was told he was lucky no one was killed after he was convicted of drink-driving.

Tuakeu appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday charged with excess blood alcohol and careless driving.

The court heard on March 19, 2022, Tuakeu was travelling on a motorcycle on the Back Rd in Nikau, coming from Arorangi when he overtook a white van at high speed and crashed into a motorcycle headed in the same direction.

He was taken to hospital and found to have 333 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

He refused to give a statement.

JP Rangi said . . .”You were very drink, you were lucky no one was killed.”

Tuakeu was fined $200 plus ordered to pay $300 for two blood tests, disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined $30 for careless driving and ordered to pay $50 court costs.

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Jason Matakino also appeared on charges of drink-driving and careless driving.

He entered guilty pleas to both charges before the court heard on April 9, 2022, about 3.50am, police arrived at the scene of a crash where the defendant was waiting.

He was asked to accompany police for a blood test at Rarotonga Hospital.

On April 26 he was interviewed by police and admitted drink-driving.

The blood test results showed he had 115 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

JP Rangi fined him $250 for drink-driving, ordered him to pay $150 for the blood test, fined him $30 for careless driving plus $50 court costs, and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.