Pair plead guilty to burglary

Two men on trial for burglary have pleaded guilty to some of the charges.

The trial of two Northland men accused of a theft and burglary spree of coastal and rural holiday homes ended earlier than expected after both pleaded guilty to some of the charges.

Jeremy Lyndon Tuhiwai, 43, and Paraire Pou, 39, entered their pleas before proceedings began on the third day of their trial in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.

Both were released on bail and will be taken back in custody this morning until they are sentenced on a date yet to be decided.

Tuhiwai and Pou earlier this week denied embarking on a 10-month burglary and crime spree, allegedly stealing items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Tuhiwai was facing 10 charges of receiving, six of burglary, and two of theft while Pou was charged with seven counts of receiving, three of burglary and three of theft. Both were also jointly facing three charges of burglary, two of theft and two of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Boats and diving gear were among items both allegedly stole.

Just after midday yesterday, Pou's lawyer Chris Muston informed Judge David McNaughton his client wished to plead guilty to eight charges of receiving and one of burglary. Seven were alternate charges which means the exact dates of the offences cannot be pinpointed.

Assorted dive gear, a wallet and its contents, a vehicle licence plate cover, a torch, an iPad, an air compressor and cameras were among stolen items Pou received. The burglary charge related to him unlawfully entering a building in Oakura Bay on June 14, 2014.

After lunch, Tuhiwai indicated through his lawyer, John Moroney, that he also wished to plead guilty to some of the charges.

They were eight charges of receiving and one of burgling a building in Whananaki North in February this year. He received a USB stick, a boat trailer lighting system and an air compressor among other items.

Judge McNaughton said Pou and Tuhiwai had a right to test the evidence against them and to then make a decision on their pleas.