August 31, 2012

Armed robber's apprenticeship may keep him out of jail

By David Clarkson

A judge has told a young armed robber that he could get lucky at his sentencing because he?s doing a building apprenticeship and ?Christchurch needs builders?.

Justice Joseph Williams granted bail for Tama Kahurangi Tuhi ? now aged 21, but just 18 at the time of the robbery ? while he awaits sentencing on October 11 for the June 2009 robbery of the Bedrock Bar in Addington.

Tuhi has been on bail, living with his mother in Sydenham, since his arrest almost a year ago.

Defence counsel Paul Norcross told the High Court in Christchurch after the four guilty pleas yesterday: ?He has certainly made some fairly dramatic changes in his life since that time.?

Tuhi?s mother told the court that her son had dissociated himself from the others involved since his arrest and had taken up a building apprenticeship. ?He?s been a very good boy. Most of the time he?s at home when he could be out. He?s stayed well out of trouble.?

Justice Williams agreed to ask for a report on Tuhi?s suitability for home detention as part of the pre-sentence report, though Norcross accepted that home detention was ?a long shot?.

The judge told Tuhi: ?This was serious offending and your chances aren?t outstanding. On the other hand, if you have got a building apprenticeship, Christchurch needs builders ? maybe you will get lucky.?

Tuhi pleaded guilty to charges of robbing four men of cellphones, cigarettes, alcohol and several amounts of cash totalling $23,000. Dylan Tyson Amataga Tavai, 23, pleaded guilty to the robbery earlier and was jailed for three years in April. A third man is awaiting trial.

The robbery took place when the Bedrock Bar in Lincoln Road was closing for the night at 3am on June 20, 2009. Police say three men arrived, one with a pistol, Tavai with a wheelbrace, and Tuhi with a knife.

The men present were robbed and held for about 20min at the bar, and one was punched. The duty manager told the robbers he did not know the safe combination and did not get paid enough to get hurt. He was told to shut up or he would be stabbed.

He was then threatened with shooting if he did not open the safe. He was forced to open the office door, and after several unsuccessful attempts, he was able to open the safe.

The victims were locked in a small bottle store while the robbers got away with the safe contents including coins in a plastic shopping bag. The bag left a trail of coins as the offenders ran off across Lincoln Road and into Addington Mall.

Police say the total amount of cash and property taken in the robbery was $24,893.