Girl Describes Alleged Stabbing Outside Riverton Dance Hall

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 17

Girl Describes Alleged Stabbing Outside Riverton Dance Hall

(New Zeaiana Preus Association)

INVERCARGILL. May 17. Evidence of 'the alleged stabbing of David Samuel Cleaver, aged 19, by David William Rainbow, a 17-year-old freezing worker, outside a Riverton dance hall about 12.30 a m. on March 31. was given by a girl of 17 in the Invercargill Magistrates Court today. Rainbow is charged before Mr E. J. S. Crutchley. S.M.. with the murder of Cleaver, and is represented by Mr R. P. H. Hewat Thirteen witnesses gave evidence in the case yesterday, which has now occupied 17} sitting hours.

The girl witness. Mary Frances Hopwood, of Riverton, said that Cleaver was only about a yard from her. She saw Rainbow. ‘He stabbed David Cleaver. Rain, bow was straight in front of Cleaver." she said. ‘‘Rainbow ;aised his hand above his shoulder, fist clenched, and then brought it downwards, the motion ending about the centre of David Cleaver’s chest.”

Cleaver had staggered back, she said. He had his hands up to the centre of his chest, and he said: "George, help me.” or something similar. Then he fell to the ground. Witness said she saw a knife, which she identified as one produced to the Court yesterday as an exhibit, lying on the ground. “Not Too Good” The girl said that she first saw Rainbow at the dance about 10 30 p.m. “He was not too good on his feet. He was full. He was acting rowdily,” she said. She said she saw David Cleaver at the dance also. His behaviour was “very good."

During the evening, she saw Rainbow fall over and hit his head on a form. He was picked up, and was carried out of the hall Rainbow was then “sort of unconscious.” Witness said she left the hall later with a friend and saw accused on the footpath outside the entrance to the hall. “He was still tight.” she said. She then saw David Cleaver walk along towards her. She recounted the alleged stabbing. Drinking Gin Rodney Norman Marsh, aged 17. an apprentice jockey, said that he met Rainbow at Fleck's Hall on March 30. He was introduced to him by a "Bill" Cleaver.

They were out in the men’s convenience and were drinking. “There was gin and there could have been some whisky.” he said. Marsh said that at that time—about 10.30 p.m.—Rainbow’s state of sobriety was "fairly bad” and he was rowdy. Marsh said he saw Rainbow about half an hour later, and he then seemed calm, but his state of sobriety seemed to be a lot worse than earl ier.

Marsh said he left the hall after the dance and was standing outside when he saw Rainbow again, standing near the doorway with a knife in his hand. His arms were hanging down by his side.

Early Fight Clifford Norman Woods, aged 18. a workman, of Riverton. said he was at the dance in Fleck’s Hall and saw the fight earlier in the evening between Rainbow and lan Cleaver.

Woods said he helped carry Rainbow out of the hall to his (witness's) car. Dr. I. L. M. Richardson (for

the Crown): Why did you take accused home? Woods: Constable Gilmour told us to take him home. Witness said he then returned to the dance, and later left with lan and Davi Cleaver. Rainbow was ou side the hall, and witnet. said to him: "What are you doing back here?” “Rainbow did not reply.” said Woods. “He just asked me where lan Cleaver was. I said I didn't know. lan Cleaver was behind Rainbow at the time.’’

“I heard David Cleaver yell. Rainbow was beside him. Rainbow turned round and ran. I saw David Cleaver slump over. I chased Rainbow and dragged him back."

Accused Driven Home Alan James Paterson, aged 18, of Riverton, said that he was in Cliff Woods’s car when Rainbow was driven home in it. On the way. Rainbow had said certain things. After hearing what Rainbow had said, those in the car had told him “not to be so silly" and to go home to bed. Rainbow was then fairly drunk, Paterson said. He seemed to be very wild about something, but witness did not know what it was.

Constable A. R. Gilmour said that on the night of March 30 he had occasion to speak to Rainbow, who was making a noise while riding a bicyrte outside the dance hall. riainbow was sober. Witness told him to go into the hall, and stay there. Cater, as the result of information given by lan Cleaver, witness ran back to the hall and found a young man lying on the footpath. He had a wound near the centre of the chest.

Rainbow was staggering around the footpath. He came up to witness and made certain remarks. On the way to the police station, Rainbow gave witness a curved skinning knife. He put Rainbow in a cell. One witness in the case has still to be heard. Detective Senior-Sergeant A. E. Leadley, who handled the case, will give his evidence at 10 a.m. tomorrow', and will be the thirty-fourth police witness.