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Accused appears in court - TUESDAY JULY 13, 20

A man at the centre an Armed Offenders Squad callout at Ahipara on Saturday was remanded on bail when he appeared in the Kaitaia District Court yesterday.
The man, David Thomas Randall, 40, unemployed, of Ahipara, did not plead to three charges under the Arms Act
He was accused of having an air rifle in his possession for an unlawful purpose in Kakapo St, Ahipara, on Saturday, presenting the rifle at his brother Raymond Randall and discharging the rifle in a public place to frighten Raymond Randall.
Justice of the peace Noeline Forsdyke remanded David Randall on bail to reappear in the court on July 23.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Janine Attwood did not oppose bail.
The police summary of facts would be presented when David Randall next appeared in court and entered a plea, she said.
The accused was represented by duty solicitor Junior Witehira.
Conditions of bail specified David Randall had to reside at a Kaitaia address, where he would be under a 24-hour curfew.
He was not to associate with Raymond Randall, not to go to Kakapo St, not to consume alcohol or drugs and not to present firearms including airguns.
The only people at the court hearing were a woman with a young boy. David Randall embraced them them both when he left the courtroom smiling and looking relieved.
Kaitaia police Detective Mark Dalzell said that David Randall was alleged to have had an argument with his brother in Kakapo St on Saturday morning which led to the Armed Offenders Squad callout.
Access to Ahipara was cordoned off by police as a standard exercise in containment while armed officers looked for Randall, he said.
After a search of more than three hours the accused was found at Shipwreck Bay, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, about 3.30pm.
Mr Dalzell said police had located an airgun at Randall's home.
The appearance of the Armed Offenders Squad was a major event at Ahipara, where David Randall is well known as a collector of  metals such as copper, and other resaleable materials, from rubbish tips in the area.
Neville Masters, who works for Pukepoto Quarries, which operates the Ahipara tip on land it leases from him, said on Sunday that he got on well with David Randall, who was sickness beneficiary.
"He worked for us for a while, but then left. Allowing him to collect recyclables was part of the terms of his employment," Mr Masters said.