ATTACK WITH KNIFE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29735, 31 January 1962, Page 9

ATTACK WITH KNIFE

Seaman Remanded For Sentence

I N.Z. Press Association) N. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 29. Michael Thomas Docherty Courtenay, aged 17. employed as a catering boy on the ship. Port Montreal, pleaded guilty in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court today to a charge that, with intent to cause grievous bodilv harm, he injured Robert Watson at Bluff on January 26. Mr A. W. Yortt. S.M.. remanded him in custody till Wednesday for sentence.

Senior-Sergeant B. G. Waller said that Courtenay entered Watson's cabin at 11 p.m. on Friday and an argument developed. Watson was entertaining visitors. Courtenay challenged Watson to a fight, and he was asked to leave the cabin. He pulled out a knife and stabbed W. tson. slashing the 3in blade across Watson’s nose and lip. The visitors wrestled with Courtenay before he could strike Watson a second time, and in the struggle the knife was lost overboard.

William Martin Clough, captain of the Port Montreal, said in evidence that he had taken control of the vessel only recently, but his predecessor had logged that Courtenay was a bad crew member. He had molested other members of the crew, been insolent to officers, and absented himself without leave Courtenay was the type of man he did not want on board, the witness said.