News from Tauranga Court

Four men charged in relation to the serious assault of 44-year-old Gary Kimura at his Margaret Rd home in October had these matters adjourned until January 10 in Tauranga District Court yesterday. Te Puke man Witeri Neketai, 34, Mount Maunganui's Jesse Hartley, 26, Taonui Hiku, 25, from Tauranga and Aucklander Joseph Rewiri, 43, are jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after Mr Kimura died on November 16 but are awaiting the results of a forensic pathologist's's report before deciding on whether more serious charges should be laid.

Name suppression

A Papamoa man charged with a historical rape of a woman in Tauranga has been given interim name suppression to give him time to inform his family.

The man appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday on a charge of rape and sexual violation of the woman in Tauranga between September 2006 and May 2007. The defendant was remanded on strict bail conditions and is due back in court next month.

Robbery bid sentence

A Parkvale teenager who assaulted a bus driver during an attempt to rob him of his cash box has been sentenced to 18 months' intensive supervision. Rychus Urwin, 18, who earlier pleaded guilty to charges of assault with intent to rob and failing to answer police bail, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

He is also subject to judicial monitoring by Judge Alayne Wills who will receive regular updates on his sentence compliance. Urwin attempted to rob the 67-year-old victim while travelling on a bus on July 27. During the scuffle the victim fell and suffered minor abrasions to his wrist and strained his knee. Urwin made his apologies at a restorative justice meeting, in a letter and also donated a carving he crafted to reinforce his remorse, the court was told.

Trial over P charges

A Mount Maunganui man is to defend P charges at trial. Tai Rewita, 38, is accused of dealing methamphetamine. Rewita denied one charge of supplying methamphetamine and two charges each of possession of the drug for supply and driving while disqualified in Tauranga District Court yesterday. No trial date has yet been set. Rewita is due back in court on February 28.

Accused's denial

A Welcome Bay man charged with possessing P for supply will defend the allegation at trial. Shannon Winders, 26, denied the charge when he was arraigned for trial in Tauranga District Court yesterday. He was further remanded in custody. The matter is due to be called again on February 28.