First Castle St cases not students

Two Dunedin men, neither of them university students, are the first people to be convicted following last weekend's Undie 500 disorder.

Flatmates Hamish Thomas Munro (18), millhand, and Jai Shonker Prasad (27), process worker, both pleaded guilty by letter to breaching the temporary North Dunedin liquor ban in Castle St on Saturday.

Neither was in the Dunedin District Court to hear Judge Stephen O'Driscoll fine each of them $250 and court costs of $130.

Prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said the men's offending was "almost identical - same place, same time". They were arrested at 3.45pm.

"They were not part of the riots and disorder that happened [in Castle St] on Friday and Saturday nights," he said.

Judge O'Driscoll said he was only able to impose a fine on liquor breach charges, but was not sure how much he should make the fine, given he knew nothing about their ability to pay.

He suggested police could have provided statements of financial means to the court, but Sgt Scouller said police would not have had time to discuss financial details with all arrested.

"If the court needs statements of means, we will just have to do with away with guilty letters and issue summons for [people] to appear in court."

Judge O'Driscoll said he was minded to impose higher fines for those charged with breaching the liquor ban during the night-time disorder.

However, given the timing of Munro and Prasad's arrests, there was no reason not to impose fines at a similar level to other liquor breach cases in the city.

Most of those arrested will appear in court tomorrow and Friday.

Tessa Rieger (19), of Dunedin, who was charged with disorderly behaviour in Castle St last Friday, was remanded to appear on September 29.

 

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