INTRUDER SHOT IN GARAGE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 7

INTRUDER SHOT IN GARAGE

SUPREME COURT TRIAL < BEGUN

CHARGE OF BREAKING AND ENTERING (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 12. The trial of William Alan Goldman, aged 30, a salesman and seaman (Mr Davison) on a charge of breaking and entering the Dominion road premises of Doiage Motors, Ltd., on the night of February 27 with intent to commit a crime, began in the Supreme Court at Auckland today before Mr Justice Stanton and a jury. Mr Speight is appearing for the Crown. The garage proprietor, Frank Doidge, was in bed in his house near the garage when he heard a burglar alarm attached to the garage door start ringing at about 10 o’clock on the night of Februry 27. said Mr Speight. Carrying a J2 calibre rifle, he entered the' garage workshop through his front office, and saw an intruder behind a car. The intruder did not stop, although told by Mr Doidge that he had a rifle, said Mr Speight. The men rushed at each other, and the intruder tried to seize the rifle. Realising that he would have to fire. Doidge dragged the muzzle down, and a bullet entered the accused’s lower abdomen.

The accused said in evidence that he was attempting to get out through a panel in the back door when someone rushed in from the front and told him to stop. The next thing he knew was a stinging pain in his side. The man was 6ft away, and he fired a rifle from the shoulder. ‘T was still trying to get out, but the man said: ‘Keep away from the door or Til put one through your head’,” said the accused. "The pain started to take effect, and one leg was numb. I sat down and tried to staunch the flow of blood."

Cross-examined, the accused said he had gone to the premises because he thought an acquaintance who was employed at the garage as a panel beater would be there drinking beer that night. He had an argument with his wife at their home, and had gone to the garage by taxi. The accused said he got no answer when he knocked on the front door, but he still thought his friend might be there. He had reached the garage yard after going through some private properties, and he wanted to go through the garage to get back on to the street When he looked out the front door and saw someone standing there he realised he should not be on the premises, and had tried to make his exit through the panel in the rear door. The case will continue tomorrow morning.