Name suppression was given to two defendants who appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday.

Defence lawyer Mark Short appeared for the defendants in both cases.

Short requested suppression on the grounds that both defendants be given time to notify family members which was not challenged by the prosecution.

Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning granted name suppression in both cases.

In the first case a man is accused of assault at a Rarotonga resort.

Short asked for disclosure to be provided and the matter was adjourned to June 9.

In the second case a man is charged with drink driving.

Short said the defendant had given him instruction to enter a guilty plea.

Short said his client had never appeared in court and it had been quite an “emotional experience” for him.

“They don’t want all the gossip, there should be sufficient time to get his things in order.

“He wants to take responsibility.”

JP Kenning granted name suppression and adjourned the matter to June 9.

In other matters, Leli Tivaknoa was convicted for drink driving and careless driving. 

He entered a guilty plea to both charges after the court was told he drove in a careless manner in the Matavera area on May 1.

Tivaknoa was consequently found to have a blood alcohol level of 229.4 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The court heard on May 1, Tivaknoa had been drinking with a colleague at a bar before he drove home and feel asleep at the wheel, and crashed into a tree.

JP Kenning ordered Tivaknoa to pay $150 for the blood test, $20 for the medical report, a $50 fine and $50 court costs before disqualifying him from driving for 12 months.

He was then fined $50 and ordered to pay $50 court costs for careless driving.