PLAYBOY millionaire Seeby [Thomas Finnegan] Woodhouse has appealed against a dangerous driving conviction, after he was snapped [by a traffic officer’s speed camera] doing more than 170kmh.
Woodhouse, the founder of telecommunications giant Orcon and former Young Entrepreneur of the Year, was caught on Boxing Day 2009 travelling at 174kmh in a 100kmh zone.
He faced a charge of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle in Taupo District Court. But in the High Court at Hamilton yesterday, his lawyer, David Malcolm, fought to get the conviction quashed on a technicality and argued that the previous judge did not have enough evidence to prosecute his client.
Justice Judith Potter referred Mr Malcolm to the photograph which had captured the infringement, “You can’t argue with a photograph,” she said.
Mr Malcolm countered and suggested the accuracy of the location, car speed and equipment could be placed under suspicion.
He believed the case hinged on whether comments made by the speed-camera operator, who had been recalled to the stand in the earlier trial, had swayed the judge’s decision. Mr Malcolm said no firm link had been established between the camera and certificate of accuracy presented to the court.
Mr Woodhouse sold Orcon for $19 million in 2007. He has since founded Green Carbon to trade carbon credits.
The judge has reserved her decision.
Source: The Dominion Post. Saturday, April 9, 2011, p. A5.
Additional references:
National Court List www.courtsofnz.govt.nz
High Court Hamilton 8th April 2011 Courrtroom No. 1. Before Hon. Justice Judith Potter Seeby Thomas Finnegan Woodhouse (D Malcolm) v Police (Crown Rotorua) CR12010-463-71
Companies Office Records: www.companies.govt.nz
Mr Woodhouse is sole director and owner of Opes Custodia Trustee Services Ltd (Co. No. 1560555) which owns 80% of the shares of Orcon Holdings Ltd (Co. No. 1643259) which he directs. It also owns Woodhouse Consulting Ltd, Green Carbon Ltd and Voyager Internet Ltd (Co. No. 903886), all of which he is director of.
See: Statement posted Dec 21, 2008 by Seeby Woodhouse
Orcon millionaire sees answers in education
[In 2007] Mr Seeby sold Orcon Internet – the company he started a decade ago – for $24.3 million and effectively retired at just 30 years old.
“If I can achieve that without an education – imagine what you can do with your business degrees. I think running a business is a lot easier than getting a university degree.”
http://www.seeby.com/news-articles/2008-04orconmillionaireseesanswersineducation
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