Bed shortage problems as young robbery accused remanded
A judge has voiced her frustrations about the lack of Youth Justice beds available in Christchurch as she remanded two teenagers in custody on charges of robbing a liquor store at the weekend.
Judge Jane McMeeken was faced with sending one of the youths to Palmerston North, where there is a bed available, when she remanded him overnight.
Instead, the youth will likely be held in the police cells in Christchurch until he can see his youth advocate for legal advice ahead of another appearance in the Youth Court tomorrow on charges of aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a car.
He did not make application for release on bail.
Judge McMeeken said it was “intensely frustrating” that there were beds available in Christchurch but the Youth Justice facility at Te Puna Wai was not being operated at its full capacity.
It was important that the youth could stay in Christchurch to get legal advice from a youth advocate on “incredibly serious charges”, she said.
If the remand had been longer than overnight, the youth might have been moved to Palmerston North.
“There are beds [in Christchurch]. They are just not being used at the moment,” said the judge.
The 15 and 16-year-olds were being held in police custody after their arrests on charges of robbing the Woolston Liquor Store on Ferry Road late on Saturday night, when bottles were smashed over the head of the shop assistant.
Both were remanded without plea to tomorrow to get legal advice.
One of them made a bail application on the charges of aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. Judge McMeeken refused bail and remanded him in custody.
Update: A third teenager, Tamatea Lorenzo Briggs, who has just turned 17, appeared in the District Court later in the day. Judge Stephen O’Driscoll remanded him in custody for an appearance by video-link from the prison on September 21, on charges of aggravated robbery of the liquor store, assault with intent to injure, unlawfully taking a car, and driving while forbidden.
Defence counsel Phillip Allan said no bail application was being made for Briggs, who is expected to enter pleas to the charges at his next appearance.
Category: News
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