A 22-year-old German tourist who hitched a ride on a moving KiwiRail train travelling south toward Blenheim on Sunday has been ordered to pay a fine or face 21 days in prison.
Hannes Roepe was still wearing a blood-spattered polo shirt when he appeared in the Blenheim District court yesterday. He admitted unlawfully getting on a train and was fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs. He was told by Judge Pat Grace to pay the fine immediately or he would spend three weeks in jail.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Roepe ran alongside the train travelling toward Blenheim as it slowed to about 25kmh approaching the Spring Creek intersection about 8.30pm on Sunday.
A witness called police, who stopped the train about 8 kilometres south of Blenheim.
Roepe was found with a head wound and was taken to Wairau Hospital.
Mr Frost said it appeared Roepe jumped off the train while it was travelling about 40kmh.
Roepe was intoxicated and declined to comment, he said.
Defence counsel John Holdaway said Roepe was backpacking around New Zealand and planned on leaving Blenheim soon.
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