LIFEBUOY TAKEN FROM DREDGE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 12

LIFEBUOY TAKEN FROM DREDGE

Three Men Convicted

Two engineers and an electrician from the overseas ship Melbourne Star were convicted in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of destroying a lifebuoy from the dredge Te Whaka.

They were lan Meekly Head, an engineer, Peter Guymel, chief refrigerating engineer, and Alan John Young, an electrician. • They were charged before Messrs W. T„ Lester and F. G. Briggs, Justices of the Peace, with wilfully destroying a lifebuoy,, valued at £5 17s 9d. the property of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. All pleaded not guilty.

Constable A. Adams gave evidence that, accompanied by Constables C. A. G. Morrison and F. Malabar, he accosted the three men on No. 1 Breastwork at 2.20 am. yesterday. Head admitted having been on the dredge Te Whaka with the other two.

Frederick Dawson gave evidence that he was in charge of the dredge, which had been laid up for holidays since December 24. When he made an inspection yesterday morning he discovered that a lifebuoy was missing and that an attempt had been made to lower one of the dredge’s lifeboats. The three accused were convicted and ordered to pay the cost of the lifebuoy. Guymel pleaded not guilty to a further charge of resisting Constable C. A. G. Morrison while in the execution of his duty.

Evidence was given by Constable Morrison that Guymel put up a fight when arrested, and the witness used his baton to subdue him. Guytnel was convicted and fined £3.

On charges of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk, to which they pleaded guilty. Head, Guymel, and Young were convicted and each fined £2.