Seven Convicted After Fracas In Wellington

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 7

Seven Convicted After Fracas In Wellington

Oitw Zealand Prm Auoctatton)

WELLINGTON, January 9. An affray in Adelaide road, Wellington, resulted in eight men being charged in the Magistrate’s Court with assaulting the men and women occupants of two passing cars. Mr M. B. Scully, Sil., convicted seven. The incident started with the holding up of a car, but whether it was held up deliberately, as had been alleged by the prosecution, or accidentally, as asserted by the defence, he would not say, said the Magistrate. He entered convictions as follows:—Jerry Heperi, aged 39, a labourer, ’common assault; Colin Anthony Croft, aged 19, a labourer, common assault and assault on a female; Raymond Ferguson Morrissey, aged 22, a workman, common assault (two counts) and assault on a femaleWati Makiri, aged 21, a labourer’ common assault (two counts) and assault on a female; Kristo Vozovits, aged 45, a workman, common assault and assault on a female (three counts).

The Magistrate dismissed a large number of other charges against the accused, and reduced charges of assault causing actual bodily harm to common assault. He dismissed charges of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm, common assault, and assault on a female against Phillip Haehae Collins, aged 24, a driver, remarking that he had done his best to stop the fights. The Magistrate did not announce his decision in respect of George Namana, aged 23, a scrub cutter, charged with assault so as to cause actual bodily harm, common assault, and assault on a female. Because of Croft’s youth, he remanded him to January 15 for sentence, a Probation Officer’s report to be obtained in the meantime. All the others he remanded till Friday. Mr G. C. Kent appeared for Croft and Heperi and defended the other accused pro forma. “Badly Beaten Up” Six persons in two cars were badly beaten up on New Year’s Eve by a gang of Maoris and Europeans who were playing “chicken" with motorists in Adelaide road, said the police prosecutor (Mr -C. J. Smillie). One of the men who was attacked was kicked into unconsciousness and was still being badly kicked as he lay on the road, he said. One of the attackers hit him on the back of the head with a large stone. Mr Smillie said that two girls In one car were pulled out and viciously kicked in the stomach. One of the attackers grabbed one of the girls by the throat and forced her back.

“She said she thought this man

was going to kill her and she resigned herself to this," said Mr Smillie.

Mr Smillie said that a Mr Sua and. three Samoan women were ■ coming down Adelaide road about 11 pjn. in a car from a church service. Between 12 and 20 men and a few women were standing in the middle of the road. Three men forced Sua to stop. When he went *to drive on a Maori walked in front of the car, another kicking the rear. Mr Sua got out of the car and the crowd became very threatening, said Mr Smillie. Vozovits flung a coat over Mr Sua’s head, kicking and punching him all over the body. Just as three women from his car went to help him he was knocked to the ground unconscious. “While he was lying there he was being badly kicked,*' said Mr Smillie. Girl's Intervention One of the girls, Tali Paukofe, was thrown to the ground and kicked. In an effort to protect Mr Sua, she threw herself on him. Makiri picked up a large stone and hit Mr Sua on the back of the head, making a wound which needed three stitches.

While this was going on another car drove up. Croft assaulted Miss Paukofe and Mr Sua with punches, said Mr Smillie.

The girl was out of hospital 10 days after having a skin graft to an arm, and medical opinion said that the operation might have to be done again, Mr Smillie added. All the men made off when the police came, but eight were later found nearby in the vicinity, he said. “They all acted with the common purpose to beat up thoroughly six persons whom they did not know,” said Mr Smillie.