Burglary Counts (Press, 17 November 1982)

On 17 November 1982, Mark Graeme Lightowler, a 27-year-old unemployed cook, was remanded in custody to the High Court for sentencing after being convicted on three charges of burglary, with stolen property valued at almost $20,000. Judge Frampton declined to exercise jurisdiction, directing the case to the High Court. Lightowler confessed to burgling a residence in Office Road on 28 September and two homes in Moncks Bay on 17 August. On 17 August, Lightowler stole jewellery and antiques worth $4,500 from one home, of which property valued at $225 was later recovered. From another house in Moncks Bay, he took a tape deck worth $250, which was not recovered. From 28-29 September, Lightowler, alongside an accomplice, broke into a house in Office Road, stealing jewellery and antiques valued at $13,750, of which $11,534 was subsequently recovered. Approximately $6,615 of the stolen items was found by police at Picton, but Lightowler was released because the property could not be identified. It was noted that Lightowler's girlfriend had pawned some of the stolen items, for which she faced charges of receiving stolen goods. He claimed he committed the burglaries to feed himself and his girlfriend after she lost her job. The prosecution sought compensation exceeding $6,000. Lightowler is also awaiting sentencing on an additional burglary charge and a receiving charge in Auckland, as well as a plea for allegedly burgling a doctor's office in Picton. Another case involved Anthony Coddington Roberts, a 27-year-old unemployed man, who was remanded on bail after opting for a jury trial on two charges of receiving antiques valued at $6,765. He allegedly received assorted antiques from Lightowler, including an antique Swiss watch. A violent incident at a party resulted in 17-year-old Kuku William Brown being remanded on bail after he assaulted Noeline Katrina Tomlinson with a beer bottle, leading to her requiring 73 stitches for her injuries. Mervyn John Joseph Chisholm, a 22-year-old fitter and welder, was remanded on bail for a hearing related to the unlawful taking of a minitanker trailer containing beer, valued at $4,600. David John Dick, also 22, denied allegations of receiving a Browning shotgun valued at $5,800 and was remanded for a hearing. Furthermore, an unemployed woman, 33-year-old Jill Bronwen McCracken, faced charges of cultivating cannabis and was denied interim name suppression, as the judge pointed out the principle that suppression should not automatically follow a not guilty plea. Lastly, 22-year-old Rosemary June Hawkins was remanded on bail, facing charges related to assisting her husband in escaping from prison and driving while disqualified, while 18-year-old Kerrie Lynette O'Malley admitted to using a friend's card to fraudulently obtain goods worth $1,046. Both women were scheduled for upcoming court appearances.

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