Alexandra District Court

A BANNOCKBURN woman who allowed her menacing dogs to roam free has admitted two charges after they attacked a man.

Alana Charmaine Makowharemahihi (49), shearer, appeared in the Alexandra District Court before Judge Dominic Flatley yesterday on the two charges, laid under the Dog Control Act 1996.

She was charged with being the owner of dogs, namely Spike, Nui and Rumble, that attacked a man in Cromwell on November 8; and, being the owner of the same dogs, which were classified as dangerous under section 31 of the Dog Control Act, allowing those dogs to be at large without being muzzled, also in Cromwell on November 8.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Gerken said Makowharemahihi owned four dogs, which had previously been impounded seven times and were declared menacing under the Dog Control Act in 2015.

On November 8, she allowed the dogs to roam up to 1km from her rural property and three of them approached a man and bit him on the buttocks and thighs, causing puncture marks and bruising.

Police and a dog control officer attended the incident and the dogs were found to be unmuzzled, their registration lapsed.

Sgt Gerken said Makowharemahihi had shown no remorse. Police sought an order to destroy the dogs and to forbid Makowharemahihi from owning dogs.

She was remanded until March

23 for sentencing.

65th and 66th convictions

A 25yearold Springvale man with 64 previous convictions was sentenced to community detention and intensive supervision on a charge of male assaults female and a breach of community work.

Simon Jack Atherton punched a female in Alexandra on November 9. His counsel, Kieran Tohill, said Atherton said he had been provoked by someone who pushed him.

However, Judge Flatley said it was concerning Atherton had tried to shift the blame.

Atherton’s previous convictions were not for violent offending, but he accepted his reaction in this incident had been ‘‘excessive’’, Mr Tohill said.

Tshirt order

A defendant’s alcoholthemed Tshirt drew a sharp rebuke from a judge during the defendant’s appearance on a drinkdriving charge yesterday.

When Matthew Noel Michael Ross (18), farm worker, of Waimumu, entered the dock wearing a Jack Daniels Tshirt, Judge Flatley ordered him to leave the courtroom and turn his shirt inside out.

‘‘You just don’t get it, do you?’’ Judge Flatley said.

Ross complied and was convicted of refusing to permit a blood specimen to be taken on November 13 in Clyde, sentenced to 40 hours’ community work and dis qualified from driving for six months.

Sixth offence

Jarku Raymond Wallace was convicted of his sixth offence of driving while disqualified and ‘‘only just’’ escaped imprisonment.

Wallace (27), of Alexandra, had driven while disqualified in Alexandra on September 15 and, dishonestly and without claim of right but not to be guilty of theft, taken a Toyota Starlet car worth $1000 in Alexandra on the same day, the court heard.

He was also charged with possessing an offensive weapon in Invercargill on June 5.

Judge Flatley said Wallace had a ‘‘blatant disregard’’ for the law and had ‘‘only just’’ avoided prison.

He sentenced him to six months’ community detention and 12 months’ intensive supervision and said if he did not comply with the conditions of the sentence and was brought back before the court, he would be sent to prison.

Wallace was already indefinitely disqualified from driving but was further disqualified for 12 months from February 11.

Other convictions

Matthew John Graeve (25), of Alexandra, possession of cannabis (58g of dried cannabis), Alexandra, December 31, 60 hours’ community work.

Daryl Leslie Reid (30), heavy trucktrailer driver, of Cromwell,

AAcareless driving causing injury, Cromwell, August 17, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified six months, reparation $750 ($348 actual reparation and the remainder emotional harm reparation).

Laura Evelyn Hepburn (31), of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 1026mcg, Alexandra, December 31, fined $1100, court costs $130, disqualified eight months.

Samuel James Purvis (35), farmer, of Tarras, drinkdriving, 1008mcg, Cromwell, December 27, fined $1100, court costs $130, disqualified eight months.

Gerard Francis Rogatski (67), of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 642mcg, Alexandra, December 12, fined $650, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Mervyn Nelson Shaw (43), farmer, of Cromwell, drinkdriving, 177mg, Cromwell, November 27, fined $1100, court costs $130, analyst’s fee $199.05, disqualified eight months.

Amber Maree Newton (27), cleaner, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 491mcg, Cromwell, December 17, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Julia Takiwa (50), shearer, of Taumarunui, drinkdriving, 552mcg, Alexandra, October 28, fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Erika Gabriela GalazBernal (31), labourer, Chilean national living in Cromwell, 772mcg, Cromwell, January 1, fined $800, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

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