Bid for Electronic Bail Falls Short in NP Court

NEW PLYMOUTH’S first electronic bail application was a non- starter in court yesterday.

Wayne Rimene appeared before Judge Oke Blaikie seeking to be released on bail with electronic monitoring.

If successful, he would have been fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet that is activated if the wearer leaves home without permission.

The 36-year-old faces a raft of charges including burglary, assault, threatening to kill and assault with a weapon.

The scheme, similar to home detention, was introduced last September but has attracted political criticism because of claims of leniency.

In the New Plymouth District Court, Judge Blaikie declined the application, saying while Rimene wasn’t a “flight risk”, there was a significant chance of him reoffending and interfering with witnesses.

Rimene had an extensive list of previous convictions committed on bail, including a fresh charge in which he allegedly intimidated a prison officer in New Plymouth prison on January 10, Judge Blaikie said.

Earlier, defence counsel Michael Bott, a Wellington lawyer who had travelled to New Plymouth for the case, assured the court Rimene would abide by electronic bail conditions.

Getting access to Rimene to discuss his charges was difficult and if he was at home, contact would be easier.

The alleged harassment of the prison officer was at the lower end of the offending scale and occurred because of Rimene’s frustration, Mr Bott said.

However, police opposed Rimene’s application.

Police prosecutor Lewis Sutton said Rimene’s charges were serious. They were ongoing and ranged over three different dates.

“He has an extensive violence propensity and that is of great concern to police.”

The alleged incident at New Plymouth Prison showed his violent attitude towards people in positions of authority, Sergeant Sutton said.

After the court hearing, Mr Bott said the judge’s decision did not come as a surprise.

“It’s a matter in His Honour’s hands and the court has made a determination and we abide by that.”

Rimene was remanded in custody and will appear in the New Plymouth District Court again on March 26.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs have criticised electronic bail, saying it is being granted to too many serious offenders and the judiciary is taking too lenient an approach.

Yesterday, police electronic bail manager Lindsay Talbot told the Taranaki Daily News he did not believe the claims were accurate.

In general, judges were erring on the side of caution and the scheme was still in its early stages.

Nationally, 25 people were on the scheme including three in the central police district, he said.

(c) 2007 Daily News; New Plymouth, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.