ASSAULT ON US. SEAMEN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 9

ASSAULT ON US. SEAMEN

Youth Remanded For Sentence (New Zealand Press AsSoHaOrm) WELLINGTON. January 21. What the police prosecutor (Mr F. O. Scotti called "vicious and unprovoked offences" on two American seamen was described to Mr M. B. Scully, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court today when a youth appeared on remand on two charges. Joshua Te Amo. aged 19. a workman, last week pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and one of robbing John Abbott of hi* wallet and. -contents, worth £lO <lss. IMa.r. Te Amo was remanded till next Tuesday for sentence

Mr Scott said shortly after midnight on January 10 a gang of youths saw two American sailors in Willis street. One of the gang. Te Amo told the. police, yelled to his friends. “Hey there's a couple of Yanks up tb.-e Let’s go and frisk them *

Mr Scott said several ot the youths grabbed Abbott, took him around the corner into Dixon street, threw him to the ground, and one went through his pockets and took his wallet.

After the wallet had been taken the youths made off. Meantime. Te Amo, who had two other youths with him. had the full knowledge that his associates were robbing Abbott The accused and his two friends later put the American sailors into a taxi. The Americans told the driver what had happened and he took them to the police. "Shortly afterwards the three youths were located by the police. According to the sailors there were about a dozen youths present but all did not take part (n the offences," Mr Scott sald. --Te Amo had denied all knowledge of the Identity of the others involved. “Though the sailors <id not suffer any bodily injury, the offences were nevertheless vicious and unprovoked, committed by teenagers of the teddy boy type on two lone visiting' servicemen." said Mr Scott