May 11, 2015
Charges against lake guardian thrown out
Lake Horowhenua kaitiaki Philip Taueki says it’s absurd hes facing five years in jail for escaping from custody, when every single charge for his arrest has been chucked out.
Mr Taueki says he will seek a discharge without conviction when he comes up for sentence in July.
In a reserved decision last week, District Court Judge Bill Hastings dismissed charges of burglary and defacement of a building at the lake.
Mr Taueki says that makes 30 consecutive charges that have been dismissed, withdrawn or quashed on appeal since 2011.
He says the police have mounted a campaign of persecution against his efforts to clean up the Maori-owned lake, which has brought him into conflict with the rowing club which he says is using the lake and its foreshore illegally
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