Police v Pareanga [2007] CKHC 38; CR92.2007 (14 September 2007)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE COOK ISLANDS
HELD AT RAROTONGA
(CRIMINAL DIVISION)

CR NO: 92/2007

POLICE

v

TUARONGO PAREANGA
Defendant

Date of sentence: 14 September 2007

Senior Sergeant Howard for Police
Mr. T Valalabure for Defendant

SENTENCE OF WESTON J

1. You appear for sentence on a charge of failing to render assistance to which you have pleaded guilty. I realize this has been a very upsetting time for you. It does not seem to me that you make a habit of doing these sort of things and this is the first time you appear before the Court. You have, of course, caused a great deal of harm to another person inadvertently and it is also true that driving on this island is a matter of concern, not only to the Police but also to this Court, and something does need to be said about that. There does appear to be a tendency on the island to treat the road as a race course, overtaking is often done on a careless and ad hoc basis, and it seems to me that your instance falls within that.
2. Those are the aggravating factors, as the Police have said. There are a considerable amount of mitigating factors. That is, factors in your favour.
3. I note that you run a business appear to be responsible for the employment of people, and I very much suspect that your driving has improved since this incident.
4. Your counsel has said in his commendably brief submissions that you should be ordered to a fine of $750.00 plus the reparation which is slightly more than that set out in the probation report, a total of $772.00. I am going to order a fine of $750.00 and to pay reparation in the total of $772.00 and Court costs of $30.00.

Judge