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Operation Inca race-fixing charge against Canterbury driver-trainer dropped (dismissed!)


Rangatira

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Canterbury harness racing trainer-driver Nigel Raymond McGrath has been cleared of a race-fixing charge arising from an 18-month industry investigation.

It was the only charge McGrath, 45, faced as part of the police's Operation Inca inquiry into racing industry figures last year.

Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave dismissed the charge and McGrath was able to walk away. He had no name suppression, but one aspect of the case remains suppressed.

Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave dismissed the charge against McGrath on Monday.
Prosecutor Karyn South told the court the Crown believed there was enough evidence but the "public interest test was not met".

READ MORE:
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Defence counsel Pip Hall QC Hall said the defence position was always that there was not enough evidence for the charge to proceed.


McGrath runs successful harness racing stables at Rolleston, near Christchurch.
McGrath had been charged with using deception to manipulate the result of race 11 at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting race meeting at Addington on March 31, 2018, by assisting Sheriff to win the race with the intention of influencing the betting outcome and causing a loss in excess of $1000 to other people, including other participants in the race and those betting on the race.

The Crown dropped one drugs charge against another man, a 27-year-old shed hand from rural North Canterbury. The man pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of MDMA, known as ecstasy, for supply, and two charges of supplying the same class B drug, all in 2018.

Defence counsel Allister Davis said he would seek a discharge without conviction for the man at his sentencing on December 11. Because of that, Judge Neave entered no convictions.

Davis said a conviction would prohibit the man from ever going on a racecourse in his life. He would apply for the discharge "because of that consequence".

The Crown's summary of facts has not yet been finalised for sending to the judge and the media, but Judge Neave said that should take place next week.

The man has interim name suppression, which was continued on Monday.

Ten other people face charges arising from Operation Inca. Nine did not have to appear at court on Monday and were remanded for a pre-trial call-over on December 19. One has been remanded to a date in October.

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18 hours ago, Rangatira said:

Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave dismissed the charge and McGrath was able to walk away. He had no name suppression, but one aspect of the case remains suppressed.

Prosecutor Karyn South told the court the Crown believed there was enough evidence but the "public interest test was not met".

Of course the Crown are going to say they had evidence . I have heard and read the evidence and weak as p...,

18 months investigation + another year to have one charge not get past go - white flag NZ Police and RIU before they sat down .

My taxes paid for this rubbish and my HRNZ fees and punting paid for the RIU clowns .

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8 hours ago, muzenza365 said:

What this means is that Nigel can go both the Police and the RIU for costs,which will include loss of earnings,damage to his reputation and legal costs.

Yeah,how about he spend about another $500 per hour on  lawyers fees on the slim chance he might get some compensation. There would be more chance of him training this years cup winner. 

 

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53 minutes ago, the galah said:

Yeah,how about he spend about another $500 per hour on  lawyers fees on the slim chance he might get some compensation. There would be more chance of him training this years cup winner. 

 

with the horse mentioned in the dismissed charge ?

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8 hours ago, LongOwner said:

Of course the Crown are going to say they had evidence . I have heard and read the evidence and weak as p...,

18 months investigation + another year to have one charge not get past go - white flag NZ Police and RIU before they sat down .

My taxes paid for this rubbish and my HRNZ fees and punting paid for the RIU clowns .

Hey Martin. Who are the many that you say condemned Nigel?

Everyone I've heard from all have said he should never have been charged in the 1st place.

As you seem to want to get rid of the RIU, who do you suggest policies the rules of this industry as the way I see it , it certainly needs someone to uphold the integrity of the industry as it seems to be at an all time low. And I'm not talking about inca here. 

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3 hours ago, Rangatira said:

with the horse mentioned in the dismissed charge ?

Is that sheriff?

 I posted on here  after his 3yo season predicting the horse would have only a handful of starts in the season just gone, be dogged by sickness,and would most likely only show glimpses of his best.

Turned out pretty accurate didn't it. 

As to this years cup. Well i'd certainly be amazed if sheriff features.

It will be interesting to see whether gran chico can develop enough to be a factor in open class racing for that stable. He would be the most likely horse to be a factor in that grade from that stable in recent years.. 

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3 hours ago, Blossom lady said:

As you seem to want to get rid of the RIU, who do you suggest policies the rules of this industry as the way I see it , it certainly needs someone to uphold the integrity of the industry as it seems to be at an all time low.  

how would poundy go ?

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On 13/08/2019 at 7:56 AM, Chief Stipe said:

Canterbury harness racing trainer-driver Nigel Raymond McGrath has been cleared of a race-fixing charge arising from an 18-month industry investigation.

It was the only charge McGrath, 45, faced as part of the police's Operation Inca inquiry into racing industry figures last year.

Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave dismissed the charge and McGrath was able to walk away. He had no name suppression, but one aspect of the case remains suppressed.

Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave dismissed the charge against McGrath on Monday.
Prosecutor Karyn South told the court the Crown believed there was enough evidence but the "public interest test was not met".

Defence counsel Pip Hall QC Hall said the defence position was always that there was not enough evidence for the charge to proceed.


McGrath runs successful harness racing stables at Rolleston, near Christchurch.
McGrath had been charged with using deception to manipulate the result of race 11 at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting race meeting at Addington on March 31, 2018, by assisting Sheriff to win the race with the intention of influencing the betting outcome and causing a loss in excess of $1000 to other people, including other participants in the race and those betting on the race.

the crown sought to withdraw the charges

the defence sought and were granted a dismissal under section 147 of the criminal procedures act which is [[ insert group 1 producing daughter of black watch ]]

suggesting "but one aspect of the case remains suppressed" is a bit of a stretch but consistent with "stuff" articles and headlines which can border on laughable at times

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