Perjury conviction could lead to 'full-time custodial' term

A Washdyke engineer was told yesterday he might be sent to jail after admitting a charge of perjury.

Christopher James Phillips (45) was charged following a trial in the Queenstown District Court on July 15 last year.

He had denied drink-driving and driving while disqualified in Queenstown on February 28 last year.

At the trial before Judge Christina Cook the sole defence witness, Glenda Ramsay, of Ashburton, said she was a friend of Phillips', had transported him to Gibbston Tavern and waited outside for him, in her car, for several hours.

While she was driving him home the pair had an argument, she stopped the vehicle in McDonnell Rd and ''stormed off'', leaving the keys on the floor of the car.

Queenstown police received an anonymous complaint about Phillips, that he was allegedly driving, and found him sitting in the driver's seat of the car with the keys in the footwell talking on his cellphone.

Following the trial Judge Cook said she had ''some suspicions'' about the evidence presented, but ultimately found the charges were not proven.

Prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin told Judge Mark Callaghan in the Queenstown District Court yesterday that after the trial Phillips was spoken to by police and admitted committing perjury by conspiring with Ramsay about her evidence.

Judge Callaghan convicted Phillips and remanded him on bail ahead of sentencing on August 3.

''This is serious offending and you may be looking at a full-time custodial sentence.''

Ramsay is due to appear on a charge of perjury next month.

 

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