FORMER CONSTABLE SHOT HIMSELF FOR PUBLICITY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29189, 27 April 1960, Page 10

FORMER CONSTABLE SHOT HIMSELF FOR PUBLICITY

(Hew Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NTH., April 26. A former Palmerston North police constable admitted shooting himself in the arm to attract publicity when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North today. Earlier, he had been reported wounded in an affray while trying to apprehend someone attempting to break and enter George Hudson, Ltd., a sports store in the city. The accused, Graeme Thomas Harrison, was charged with breaking and entering the store and stealing a rifle, and with committing mischief by damaging a glass panel. He was remanded until May 2 for sentence. Senior Detective-Sergeant W. H. Cromwell told Mr D. G. Sinclair, S.M., that the charges arose out of an incident on April 8, when at 2.50 a.m. Harrison had reported that he had attempted to apprehend a man attempting to enter George Hudson, Ltd., and that the man had fired a shot which had wounded him, and had disappeared. After inquiries by the police had been made, Harrison had subsequently admitted that he had inflicted the wound on himself.

A married man aged 27, with one child, Harrison was living apart from his wife, and had hoped that the publicity given

the incident would effect a reconciliation. Appearing for Harrison, Mr H. Y. Gilliand said there was a background of emotional difficulties which justified a psychiatric report. Harrison was willing to remain in custody until the report had been effected. Mr Gilliand asked for interim suppression of Harrison’s name. The Magistrate agreed a psychiatric report was necessary and ruled accordingly. He said he was not prepared to allow suppression of Harrison's name. “The case has peculiar circumstances which make suppression impossible,” he said. According to his report given at the time Harrison was on duty in Rangitikei street, when his suspicions were aroused by a broken glass door of Hudson’s store. Harrison had said that he had attempted to follow a man down an alley and the man had turned and shot him. The wound was not serious, and Harrison was able to get help. He was in Palmerston North Hospital for three days, when police inquiries were instituted. A number of suspects were interviewed. A rifle was discovered at the scene.

Mr Cromwell told the Court Harrison had been dismissed from the Police Force.