Males attending the Dunedin District Court yesterday, after
being charged following last weekend's Undie 500 disorder,
hide their faces in an attempt avoid waiting media. Photos
by Stephen Jaquiery.
Police warn they are likely to make more arrests next
week after they review footage of the Undie 500 disorder in
Dunedin.
The warning came as another 39 people arrested during the
disorder, some accompanied by their parents, reported to the
Dunedin District Court yesterday, bringing the total moving
through the justice system following the event to 59.
The tally includes three high school pupils, two from Dunedin
and one from Napier.
Dunedin area police commander Inspector Dave Campbell warned
more would follow as he had assigned a team of officers to
review police video footage, still photographs and other
evidence, to identify others involved.
"The officers will be directed to concentrate on those
throwing missiles and lighting fires."
The inquiries should not come as a surprise to those involved
as they were warned before the event police would come down
hard on law-breakers, he said.
The University of Otago suspended three students for a term
after identifying them in video footage of the toga parade in
George St this year, which also had descended into disorder.
Fifty-four men and five women still face charges in the
district court.
Charges against four people were withdrawn by police before
and during court proceedings this week because of
insufficient evidence.
Four of the remaining 59 have already been convicted and were
fined after pleading guilty - three to breaching the Dunedin
City Council's temporary North Dunedin liquor ban, and one to
stealing a police officer's hat.
Judge Paul Kellar told the student who stole the police hat
that he would pay for his "moment of gross stupidity" for the
rest of his life.
His conviction for theft could affect his ability to travel
and his career.
The remaining people mainly received registrar's adjournments
to October 1 or 2.
Of those charged, 26 were from Otago University and eight
from Canterbury University.
Others came from Lincoln and Victoria Universities, the Otago
Polytechnic and Telford Rural Polytechnic.
Most of the charges were for breaching the liquor ban,
intentionally obstructing police officers, and disorderly
behaviour.
One of the high school pupils is charged with one of the more
serious charges laid so far, that of assaulting a police
officer with a bottle.
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.