Facing her third or subsequent drink-driving conviction, Myrtle Elizabeth Ratapu, 56, pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving and drink-driving when she appeared before Judge Bill Hastings in Masterton District Court. On September 8, Ratapu lost control of her car as she drove on Te Ore Ore Rd, slamming into a power pole. An alcohol breath reading found her to be above the legal limit of 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. Police prosecutor Jodi Lawrence said police would be seeking $11,969 in reparation for the damaged power pole. Ratapu was remanded at large for a pre-sentence report and sentencing on November 25.
Hive theft plea
Accused of stealing beehives worth more than $15,000, Jaime Daniel McRae, 21, has elected trial by jury. The bricklayer, appeared before Judge Bill Hastings in Masterton District Court recently, entering a not-guilty plea to stealing beehives worth $5000 from Kiwi Bee Ltd on August 28, and stealing beehives and equipment worth $10,000, the property of Wairarapa Manuka Honey Ltd between January 1 and September 2, this year. It is also alleged he received a beehive worth $250 between the same period of time. He was remanded on bail to appear in Wellington District Court on December 19 for a case review and trial date to be set.
Work ordered
A sentence of home detention was swapped for community work when Duane Michael Fricker appeared before Judge Bill Hastings in Masterton District Court recently. He pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching home detention, with six weeks of his original sentence still to go. Judge Hastings cancelled the original sentence and ordered he complete 40 hours' community work. Meanwhile, Fricker has been remanded at large to reappear in court on November 12 for a case review on another charge of breach of home detention and three counts of driving while disqualified.
Defence lawyer Louise Elder told the court the issue was about whether he had a reasonable excuse.
Diversion chance
A man facing a charge of careless driving is to be considered for police diversion. Jamie Paul McMaster pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Judge Bill Hastings in Masterton District Court. McMaster was remanded at large for police to consider him for diversion, which means he won't get a conviction if he follows through on recommendations put to him. He is due back in court on October 31.