STABBING CHARGE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 2

STABBING CHARGE

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (New Zealana Press Association) WHAKATANE, November 16. After evidence had been given by 14 police witnesses in the Magistrate’s Court, Rangel Alexander Angelcss. aged 2, pleaded not guilty to a charge of wounding with a knife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for trial. An application for bail by the accused’s counsel iMr J. D. Buddle) was refused by Messrs H. C. Clarke and A. E. Lambert, J.P.’s.

Pat Hopa gave evidence that he saw a friend. Bob Kepa, involved in a scuffle with the accused outside a fish shop at Te Teko on the evening of October 27. He said he attempted to restrain Kepa. The accused ran to a car, and on returning attacked him. the witness said.

Dr. E. T. Dawson, medical superintendent of the Whakatane Public Hospital, said that Hopa was admitted to hospital in an extremely shocked condition with three wounds in the abdomen and another wound in the chest. An operation was performed successfully the following morning, but Hopa was still a patient in the hospital. Hopa’s injuries could have been caused by a knife of the type produced in Court.