Prison Terms Increased For Brawling In Gaol

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 18

Prison Terms Increased For Brawling In Gaol

(New Zealand P

’ress Association)

AUCKLAND. April 20.

When an Auckland prison inmate walked up to another prisoner standing on morning parade and punched him in the face, a general fight Involving prisoners and warders ensued, the Magistrate's Court at Auckland was told yesterday. Seven prisoners appeared before Mr H. J. Wily, SM. on assault charges arising from the disturbance on the morning of April 10.

Huia Matekino George Hansen walked up to Ronald George Balchin and punched him. said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr S A. deal) Hansen, aged 26. was charged with assaulting Balchin. Wana Steven Nepia. aged 21. was charged with assaulting Second Officer D C Taylor and Third Officer J A Moyle

Both accused pleaded not guilty to their charges at first, but after hearing evidence changed their pleas to guilty. • The other accused were Adam Whakaue, aged 32, charges of assaulting Third Officers Moyle and L. G. Hargreaves; lan Rangitaniwha Piena, aged 22. assaulting Third Officer K L Langley; John Repia, aged 28, assaulting Third Officer Hargreaves; James William Shepherd, aged 21. assaulting Prison Officer A K Wilson. Clifton Glen Patrick B;rss. aged 25. faced one charge of assaulting a fellow prisoner. John Stanley Clark, and four others of assaulting officer* —lnstructor H H Garn. Prison Officer T Hughes Third Officer Hargreaves and Second Officer Taylor. One charge against Birss was withdrawn.

Whakaue and Piena pleaded guilty to their charges. Birss pleaded guilty to three charges, but denied two

Repia and Shepherd pleaded not guilty. Shepherd was remanded to appear on April 30 to enable him to instruct counsel Birss was acquitted on one defended charge of assault and altered his plea on the other to guilty

The Magistrate convicted all except Shepherd on their remaining charges Whakaue was sentenced to

a total of six months’ gaol. The Magistrate ordered this sentence to be brought to the attention of the Parole Board when it reviews Whakaue's present sentence of preventive detention

Nepia was sentenced to a total of five months’ gaol. Hansen to three months. Piena to six weeks, Repia to one month, and Birss to a total of six months All sentences are to be served cumulatively on the prisoners’ present sentences. The Magistrate said some of the accused had a history of past violence. Some were involved more seriously in the fight than others.