TAXI-DRIVER ROBBERY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 11

TAXI-DRIVER ROBBERY

N.Z. Sailor Pleads Guilty In Japan (N.Z. Press Association—Cop yright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) YOKOHAMA, July 1. Signalman First Class Richard D. D. Pearce, of the Royal New Zealand Navy cruiser Royalist, who is charged with robbing and injuring a Japanese taxi-driver, today told the Yokohama District Court that he had “no intention to kill or injure” the driver. Pearce, who comes from New Plymouth, pleaded guilty but questioned the accuracy of some of the clauses in the indictment Pearce said he had been drinking on the night of the incident and could not recall some of the points outlined in the indictment. According to the indictment read by a prosecutor, Mr Naoji Nikamura, Pearce and another sailor,

robbed a Japanese taxi-driver Hiroshi Suzuki, aged 33, of 5760 yen (£5 15s 2d) at Yokohama Port at 10.40 pan. on May 24.

The indictment said that Pearce, who was in the back seat of the taxi, placed his lanyard around the driver’s neck to pull him back while his companion in the front seat struck the driver several times shouting “Kill, kill.”

The indictment said the driver managed to get out of his taxi and a policeman who was nearby arrested Pearce while the other sailor escaped. As a result of the attack the driver received injuries which required medical treatment.

Pearce told the Court he had no intention to injure the driver but wanted to “hold” him in order to get the money.

Pearce denied that he had conspired with the other sailor to obtain money by force as stated in the indictment.

He said he needed the money to repay a debt to some Americans he had met at a bar in Yokohama. He had not intended to use the money for his personal enjoyment as stated in the indictment. Pearce said he had been drinking since about 4.30 p.m. on that day and did not remember whether he ordered the driver to go to the park. He said he could not remember whether his companion pointed an unbrella at the driver, struck him several times, or shouted “kill, kill.” Pearce said he had no knowledge of the extent of the driver’s injuries. He said he had a little more than .3000 yen (£3) in his pocket when he was taken to the police station. The case was ’ adjourned until July 13 when the driver and a barmaid. Miss Yuko Making, will be called at witnesses.