June 20, 2013
In Kingaroy Magistrates Court today:
A former Director of Nursing at Kingaroy Hospital pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over the use of a taxi voucher.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Bushell said Nyrie Anne Roos used a taxi voucher issued by Queensland Health on September 22, 2010, for a non-authorised cab trip. The cab charge was $175.70.
Solicitor Andrew Kelly, for Roos, alleged his client had been the victim of a “witch hunt” launched after she refused to relinquish her position at the hospital.
He said she had been authorised to use taxi vouchers, and on occasion had used them for private purposes but had immediately rectified it.
“This is one of those occasions … she thought she had rectified it but accepts she had not,” he said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said that while it was not the most heinous of offences to come before court, public funds were sacrosanct.
“They are for public use, not personal use,” he said.
He fined her $500 and ordered she pay $175.70 restitution within seven days. No conviction was recorded.
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A charge of attempted murder against a Wattle Camp woman was adjourned.
Kay Te Atarangi Lyons appeared by videolink and did not apply for bail. She was remanded in custody to re-appear on August 22.
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A man facing eight charges after a domestic incident at Nanango in February during which a shotgun was discharged was sentenced today to eight months’ jail.
Danny James Wratten pleaded guilty to assault, dangerous conduct with a weapon, possessing ammunition, possession or use of a weapon while under the influence, threatening violence, unlawful possession of a weapon and two drugs counts.
Magistrate Bucknall set a parole release date of September 11, 2013. On his release, Wratten will serve 18 months’ probation. Convictions were recorded on all charges.
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An 18-year-old youth, upset after his “new” car ran off the road, pleaded guilty to assaulting two female ambulance officers who had been called to the accident site to assist him.
Scott Gordon Russell also pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said the ambulance officers had been called to a traffic accident at 8.10pm on March 15 on the corner of Harris and Walter Roads in Kingaroy.
When an ambulance officer tried to approach him he pushed her and then spat at her colleague before running away.
Soon afterwards, police were called to the area after reports that an intoxicated male was walking out in front of traffic and yelling and screaming at cars.
Solicitor Mark Werner, for Russell, said his client’s grandfather had just given him the car and he was upset after it had been run off the road into a ditch.
He said Russell was extremely embarrassed by his behaviour and had acknowledged he had behaved “like an idiot”.
Magistrate Bucknall sentenced Russell to six months’ probation. No conviction was recorded.
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A woman who had been stabbed by her de facto pleaded guilty to contravening a domestic violence order after she attempted to kick the man in the head while police were arresting him.
Anita Rose Langdon, 30, of Kingaroy, also pleaded guilty to obstructing police.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said police had handcuffed the man and had him on the ground in Belle Street, Kingaroy, when Langdon attempted to kick him.
She was on probation for another breach of a domestic violence order at the time.
Solicitor Alan Korobacz said Langdon’s de facto had attempted to stab her in the back but she had managed to fight him off, getting a defensive wound to her hand.
After she kicked out at him, police arrested her, too, before taking her to Kingaroy Hospital for treatment to the wound.
Magistrate Bucknall told Langdon that once the police were there and had her partner restrained, she should have left them to deal with it.
However, he said there were some mitigating circumstances to the breach. He ordered she complete 40 hours’ community service. A conviction was recorded.
