Court
Court briefs 11.11.22
Saturday 12 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
Guilty to assault Eria Bubutei pleaded guilty to four counts of assault on a child in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday. Bubutei pleaded guilty through his lawyer Mark Short. Short said: “He wants to take responsibility and that is why he is taking this plea today.” Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning set […]
Court briefs 11.10.2022
Friday 11 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
Theft as a servant Ngatamaine Pupuke charged with four counts of theft as a servant appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thurasday via Zoom from Manihiki. However, Pupuke’s lawyer did not appear. Police asked for the matter to be adjourned. Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning, who oversaw the matter, said there was […]
18 months’ probation for resort theft
Thursday 10 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
An Aitutaki man who stole more than $5900 from a resort over a period of 10 months has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation.
New acting Solicitor General for Cooks but questions remain
Wednesday 9 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
Newly appointed Deputy Solicitor General Lauaki Jason Annandale has found himself acting in the top job but there are unanswered questions around his appointment.
Solicitor General resigns after only nine months in job
Tuesday 8 November 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in BREAKING NEWS, Court, National
Cook Islands Solicitor General Graham Leung has resigned after less than 12 months in the job.
No show from disbarred lawyer in appeal case
Monday 7 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
Disbarred lawyer and former Cabinet Minister Wilkie Rasmussen failed to appear for his case at the Court of Appeal on Friday.
Crown calls for longer sentence for rape and indecent assault charges
Monday 7 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
The Crown is seeking a longer sentence for a man who repeatedly raped and assaulted a then-14-year-old girl.
High-profile trial likely to start in second half of 2023
Saturday 5 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, Features, National
The high-profile trial of a senior politician and two former prominent civil servants is likely to take four weeks and begin late next year.
$65k in traffic fines: Fifty-three people in court for unpaid penalties
Friday 4 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime
People tend to be motivated to ‘cough up’ when they get called into court says a police spokesperson, following 53 people being called into the Criminal Court at Avarua for unpaid fines.
Judges reserve decision on Titikaveka petition appeal
Friday 4 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Cook Islands United Party candidate Margharet Matenga’s petition that several voters in the Titikaveka electorate were ineligible and should not have been counted ‘is disenfranchising, and should be struck out’, a lawyer for elected MP Sonny Williams argues.
Petitions alleging treating goes to Court of Appeal
Thursday 3 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Petitions accusing independent candidates of treating should not have been struck out, lawyer for the Cook Islands United Party argues.
Court Briefs 01.11.2022
Wednesday 2 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime
Discharge without conviction A man has entered a guilty plea to careless driving and walked away without a conviction. He has been told to pay over $1000 in reparations. Tuiate Turuariki, 21, appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday last week. The court heard Turuariki crashed into the back of a car near […]
Court briefs 31.10.2022
Tuesday 1 November 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime
No money for lawyer: Rurutoa Maoate and Ngatokoitu Uri, both facing assault charges, say they don’t have the money to pay their lawyer.
Crown Law appeals ‘discharge without conviction’ ruling
Tuesday 1 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
The Crown Law has taken a decision from a High Court Judge to discharge a man without conviction for an incident where he slapped three women on the buttocks with a machete to the Court of Appeal.
Man guilty of drink driving ordered to pay $840 in fines and reparation costs
Monday 31 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime, National
Samuela Ratulele was ordered to pay $840 in the Criminal Court in Avarua in fines and reparation costs for a drink driving offence.
Media not notified of senior officials’ court appearances
Monday 31 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
Cook Islands courts are under no legislative mandate to notify the media of upcoming cases, says the Secretary of Justice.
Woman pleads guilty to drink driving charge
Monday 31 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime, National
A woman was caught over three times the legal breath alcohol limit, the Criminal Court heard on Thursday.
Sentencing date looms for Aitutaki cannabis accused
Saturday 29 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime
Those facing a raft of charges following the bust of a commercial sized cannabis operation on Aitutaki have been told to prepare for the possibility of jail.
Court briefs
Saturday 29 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, Crime
28.10.2022
Culture head’s drink driving case adjourned
Friday 28 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Court, National
The drink driving matter of the secretary of Ministry of Cultural Development has been adjourned for December but his lawyer told the court a guilty plea is likely.