CHARGE AGAINST CONSTABLE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28539, 19 March 1958, Page 14

CHARGE AGAINST CONSTABLE

Case Dismissed At Greymouth (Frdrit Gut Oiott Reporter) GREYMOUTH, March 18. “ThdrV is no doubt that the defendant’Wd the expiahatioti that he was the guest of the licensee and this Was Confirmed by the licensee to the presence of the sergeant without either being able to confer,” said Mr L. N. Ritchie S.M. in the Magistrates court at Qrtymouth this evening When dismissing the charge against William A. Back, d polite constable, of being found after hours on licensed premises Of the Dominion Hotel. ‘■l dan quite understand why he panicked at he had previously been Charged under police regulations with a similar offence, I cannot come to the conclusion that the constable was lying," the Magistrate said. Sergeant E. J- Trappit said he had been called to open the door of a milkbar adjoining the Dominion Hotel on the night in question, and found a stairway leading up to the hotel laundry. He saw two men leave the domestic quarters and enter the washhouse. On investigation he found the defendant and a companion in a cupboard. They claimed to be guests of the licensee which w.as later confirmed. Hack’s explanation had been that he had previously been dealt with under police regulations for being found on the same premises and did hot want to be prosecuted again. Both defendants denied drinking with one another. X . j months Back had- had. regular meals at. thd ’hotel and' on the night of the police vMt* he had accepted an invitation of the licensee to have a drink before returning to the police barracks. Counsel submitted that where a reasonable explanation was given as in this case, police should not prosecute but should adopt a reasonable attitude. The defendant in evidence corroborated what his counsel had said. Although no decision had been announced, the defendant said he understood his appeal against prosecution under the police regulations had been successful.

Robert John McGlone, licensee of the Dominion Hotel, corroborated the evidence of the defendant in respect of his invitation to have a drink before leaving the premises.