An 18-year-old motorist appeared in the High Court at Avarua on Friday 24 November 2023 charged with careless driving, possession of cannabis and possession of a bong.[1] The court heard that on 3 June 2023 he was driving when he suffered an epileptic fit after feeling dizzy, resulting in a car crash.[1] Following the crash, police searched his vehicle and found cannabis and a bong.[1]
Police said the defendant entered an early guilty plea and admitted that the cannabis and bong were for his personal use.[1] Defence lawyer Mona Ioane explained that his client suffered from a mental health issue and that the crash resulted from an epileptic seizure.[1] Ioane told the court his client accepted full responsibility for the incident.[1]
Justice Christine Grice accepted that the careless driving was caused by the medical episode and asked whether a discharge would be appropriate.[1] Police did not oppose a discharge on the traffic offence.[1] Justice Grice emphasised that the drug offences were serious matters.[1] The judge convicted and fined him $500 for possessing cannabis and $200 for possessing a bong, plus $50 in court costs, and discharged him without conviction for careless driving.[1]
