Crime
Cook's sentence result of tightened legislation
Wednesday 12 May 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice Colin Nicholson’s decision to sentence 18-year-old Danny Cook to two years in prison recently, reflects the tightening of legislation following the Loomes case of 2006. Owen Matunga Tainga Loomes was sentenced to one year in prison when he was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of Niki Smith in 2003. He also received […]
Jury still out on assault charge
Wednesday 12 May 2010 | Published in Crime
The first jury trial of the year was due to wrap up yesterday but the jury had not returned a verdict by the time this newspaper went to print last night. The 12 jurors were expected to be pardoned, after two days in court, after delivering their verdict but as the CI News went to […]
Government announces Weston appointment
Wednesday 12 May 2010 | Published in Crime
The appointment of Justice Tom Weston as the new Chief Justice of the Cook Islands High Court was officially announced by government yesterday. Justice Weston was nominated for the position by current Chief Justice David Williams, following a long-standing tradition of recommending a successor. Prime minister Jim Marurai and attorney general Wilkie Rasmussen issued a […]
Dragonflies swoop to first win
Monday 10 May 2010 | Published in Crime
The Avatiu Dragonflies’ premier netball squad had their first taste of victory this season after a nail biting 43-42 win against their tenacious Takuvaine opponents. But it was Takuvaine that looked on-the-ball in the first quarter when they held Avatiu 10 goals to 7. In that first quarter, Takuvaine let Avatiu run free at mid-court […]
Arnold dubbed 'maestro' of the courtroom
Saturday 1 May 2010 | Published in Crime
Lawyer labelled by Norman George the ‘maestro’ of the legal profession Local lawyer Tim Arnold has been touted as the ‘maestro of the Cook Islands legal profession’ by his client, politician and lawyer, Norman George following his successful defence of him in the long-running Slush trial. Yesterday, Justice Colin Nicholson handed down the verdict in […]
Club netball back on court
Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Crime
The club netball season starts today and the four clubs involved are keen to take to the courts. This year’s netball tournament will be contested by last year’s champions Titikaveka, last year’s runner-up Takuvaine, Ngatangiia and Avatiu. The Arorangi club pulled out the tournament because they didn’t want to play in the purpose-built sports Telecom […]
Slush trial finally finishes on question of witness credibility
Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Atiu MP Norman George was described as an ‘unlikely criminal’ by his defence lawyer Tim Arnold in his closing submissions at the final day of the Operation Slush trial yesterday. In beginning his final submission for the defence, Arnold pointed out the obvious – George’s political career and his legal career are both at risk […]
One court case resolved, 28 adjourned
Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Dorice Reid presided over 29 cases in the high court last week, only one of which was resolved: Tereapii Tumutoa – pleaded not guilty to injuring with intent through counsel Lavenia Rokoika. Case was adjourned to May 20. James Tai Herman – Rokoika spoke on behalf of counsel Tina Browne, who […]
Landowners make demands
Thursday 22 April 2010 | Published in Crime
As the court battle between Apex Agencies and government began yesterday over whether their multi-milliondollar settlement agreement can be enforced, landowners of the Toa Petroleum depot site in Panama turned up to voice their own concerns. Representatives of the three landowning families, including chairman of the landowners’ committee, Philip Nicholas, delivered a letter to government, […]
Police prosecution fails
Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Crime
A man convicted of excess blood alcohol was pardoned yesterday in court because of errors in the prosecution’s case. Terereiti Kureta pleaded not guilty to the charge through counsel Lavenia Rokoika in January but was convicted and sentenced by justice of the peace Dorice Reid on February 9. Rokoika filed an appeal on February 14, […]
Penrhyn man claims 'outrageous' treatment
Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Crime
A Penrhyn man appeared before Judge Weston yesterday to appeal a number of convictions and sentences he dubbed “outrageous and unlawful” in his affidavit. Arumia Robert Samatua alleges that he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned, deprived of the right to a fair trial, unjustly sentenced to hard labour and exposed to public humiliation when he […]
Driving case finally ends
Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Careless driving saga comes to conclusion after a year Justice Tom Weston presided over a case yesterday, which has been in and out of court for over a year. Last March, Greer Solomon was charged with careless driving causing injury and failure to stop and ascertain following a motor vehicle crash. Yesterday, she appeared in […]
Weston to hear question of the Toa multi-million dollar profit guarantee
Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Government has decided to fight against having to honour a $1.2 million eight-year profit guarantee agreement it made with fuel distributor Apex Agencies last December. Apex Agencies’ application to have the court declare the second part of the multi-million dollar settlement will be heard this Wednesday and Thursday in the High Court before Justice Tom […]
Tepaki in civil court
Saturday 17 April 2010 | Published in Crime
The Richard Fisher v Tepaki 1 Holdings Limited case appeared before Judge Weston in the Cook Islands High Court this week. The civil suit traces back to September, when Peddle Thorp & Montgomery applied for the liquidation of Tepaki 1 Holdings Limited after the company had failed to repay a debt. At the same time, […]
Court deals with assault, theft, wilful damage
Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over a number of cases in the high court this week: Tevai Teono – pleaded guilty to an assault on a female charge. Kenning adjourned the matter to April 29 in order to allow time for the prosecution to file a victim impact report and a probation report. […]
Barrowman's friends and family restless
Tuesday 13 April 2010 | Published in Crime
For friends and family of the late Duncan Barrowman, the Paul Williams saga seems to have reached a standstill. Those who knew the 43-year-old rugby player are getting restless. Williams was charged with manslaughter after fatally striking Barrowman, who was on the island for a Golden Oldies tournament, with his truck in Tupapa last May. […]
JP grants 5 name suppressions
Monday 12 April 2010 | Published in Crime
Name suppression was a contentious issue this week in the high court. Justice of the peace Tiki Matapo granted five requests from counsel Norman George for name suppression despite objections from crown law. A man with name suppression appeared for a call-over on an indecent assault charge. Catherine Evans of crown law said that the […]
Possession of firearm among many court cases
Tuesday 6 April 2010 | Published in Crime
JP Bernice Manarangi presided over the following cases in the High Court last week: Danny Cook – pleaded guilty to charges of excess blood alcohol, driving without a licence, dangerous driving causing injury and dangerous driving causing death. Counsel Tim Arnold asked that the case be adjourned as it involves a “serious issue” which is […]
George says he was a 'target to blame'
Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Lawyer Norman George, still in the hot seat, has asked counsel Tim Arnold to represent him for the remainder of the Slush trial. “Consequent upon Mr Vaile’s discharge, Mr George approached me to seek assistance in terms of what would otherwise be an awkward taking of evidence of both himself and various family members and […]
23 cases dealt with this week
Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over 23 cases in the high court yesterday, many of which were adjourned because lawyer Norman George was tied up with his own Operation Slush trial. James Tai Herman – did not appear for call-overs on common assault and assault with intent to injure charges. “The defendant has […]