A couple face a $173,000 reparation claim after lying about a family death and serious injury to make a fishing trawler return to port.
At the Christchurch District Court today, they admitted lying to Talley’s Fisheries of Nelson about the death of one parent and the serious condition of the other, causing the fishing boat one of them was on to dock in Lyttelton Harbour.
Tyler Stewart Stokes, 20, told the captain of the boat that his parents had been in a serious car crash, his father had been killed, and his mother was in intensive care.
His partner, Monique Carlaw, 22, was then phoned and she confirmed the lie.
The Amaltal Columbia had left Port Nelson on December 18, but Talley’s arranged for the boat, which was 210 miles east of Lyttelton to dock, and a replacement crew member to be provided.
They gave Stokes immediate compassionate leave while on board the boat, and gave him $1000 to assist with his expenses.
On December 23 Stokes was collected by Carlaw, and Talley’s staff continued to liaise with the pair who kept up with the lie.
Judge Gary MacAskill remanded the pair on bail for sentencing on August 22. He referred them to a restorative justice meeting if appropriate, and ordered a report to assess their suitability for a home detention sentence, a pre-sentence report, and a reparation report.
The summary of facts said the police were asking for $173,650 reparation for Talley’s Fisheries over the losses the deception had caused.
Carlaw told the police that she lied as she was trying to help her partner, and had real concerns for his wellbeing if he stayed on the boat.
The pair had admitted charges of causing loss by deception.
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