Prison For Youths Who Fought Police

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 9

Prison For Youths Who Fought Police

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 10. “This was a deplorable and disgraceful episode in which all of you behaved like irresponsible hoodlums influenced with drink,” Mr A. A. Coates, S.M.. told four youths appearing before him in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A police witness said earlier that the youths “virtually took over” the wharf police station during a melee on the night of May 19. Each of the accused was sentenced today to three months’ imprisonment. to be served concurrently on charges of assaulting and resisting police officers. “AU responsible citizens will condemn such behaviour,” said the Magistrate. “It behoves the Court to demonstrate unmistakably that such behaviour will not be tolerated in this city.” Before the Court were Noel Francis Basher, aged 20, Neil Jeffrey Amos, aged 22, Ivan Arthur Ashby, aged 20, and Dennis John Cross, aged 20. Cross faced charges of assaulting and resisting Constable John Elliott Walden and wilfully damaging a wall panel to the extent of £lO. Ashby was charged with assaulting and resisting Constable Patariki Paani Wihongi and wilfully damaging a police vehicle to the extent of £7. Amos was charged with assaulting Sergeant Ronald Bernard Davis, resisting Con-

stable Gordon Alexander Grattan, and wilfully damaging a police vehicle. Basher was charged with assaulting and resisting Constable Hary Francis Burke, wilfully damaging the vehicle and wilfully damaging a shirt worth 27s 6d.