Morey Vati entered a guilty plea to assault on a female on Thursday last week in the Criminal Court at Avarua.

Vati, who represented himself, began to speak in court after he pleaded guilty but Justice of the Peace John Whitta, who oversaw the matter, cut him off and said sentencing would happen at another date.

JP Whitta said Vati could speak then. The matter is adjourned for sentencing on September 7.

Vati is on bail with the condition not to contact the victim. 

Woman charged with common assault

A woman charged with common assault will likely be discharged without conviction, says a defence lawyer.

The woman appeared before Justice of the Peace John Whitta in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday last week.

The defendant’s lawyer Norman George said the nature of the assault was “non-serious”.

“The defendant has been suffering two years of harassment from the complainant.”

George said his client was harassed on Facebook by the complainant.

George said he would apply for a discharge without conviction and that prosecution would not oppose it.

The matter has been adjourned to September 7.

Cultivating cannabis matter adjourned

Joseph Wachter charged with cultivation of cannabis and possession of a utensil appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday last week. 

Wachter’s lawyer Norman George asked for an adjournment so he could go through the details of the charges.

“It’s quite a serious charge of cultivating cannabis.”

The matter is adjourned to September 7 by Justice of the Peace John Whitta.