Otago defendant stunned after 35-year surprise warrant

Toni Douglas Parata was wanted by law for almost 35 years, he just didn’t know.
The 54-year-old was not the dangerous outlaw one might imagine, doggedly hunted by police as he repeatedly escaped their clutches.

He’s a Karitane worker.

When Parata appeared in Dunedin District Court this week, he thought he was there to be sentenced on a charge of assault with intent to wound, following a hit outside a Waikouaiti tavern on Aug. 1.

He was as mystified as anyone when Judge John Macdonald revealed that an arrest warrant had been issued against him since 1986.

Load?

Stealing a fishing pole, valued at $ 95.

Parata said he had no recollection of the indictment, and Attorney General Chris George was equally perplexed.

He said the police file for the misdemeanor was “long gone” and immediately dropped the charge.

Judge Macdonald said that aside from the landmark order, there was nothing special about the Parata case.

He had been drinking at the Golden Fleece Hotel when he became “intoxicated and aggressive” and was encouraged to take the courtesy car home.

However, when he saw a man leave the pub with his partner, he was enraged.

Parata launched accusations at the victim and then two blows that left him unconscious.

The man lay in bed for 10 minutes and the defendant was so concerned for his well-being that he attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, attorney Brendan Stephenson said.

The judge said the victim’s suffering had continued in the weeks after the attack.

Parata, the court heard, had six previous convictions for assault, but the most recent was 12 years ago.

“I think I can treat this as an isolated incident,” Judge Macdonald said.

A letter, written by the defendant, seemed to show remorse and the judge expected him to comply with his words of contrition.

Parata was sentenced to nine months of supervision, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay the victim $ 1000.