Accused Alleges He Was Assaulted By Constable

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29830, 24 May 1962, Page 15

Accused Alleges He Was Assaulted By Constable

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WELLINGTON. May 23. Claims that his client was struck on the nose, had his thumb bent backwards and a knee stuck into his neck by a’ policeman while in the cells of the Upper Hutt police station where made byMr R. B. Grubi in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt today. Mr Grubi was representing one of four youths who appeared before Mr J. F. Keane, S.M.. for sentence on a series of charges arising from incidents in Upper Hutt on May 5. The youths were Peter Robert Edhouse, aged 18, a freezing worker (Mr Grubi), John James Martin, aged 17, a workman. Andreen Jago Booth, aged 17, an apprentice panel beater, and Kevin George Martin, aged 20, a workmen.

Edhouse had previously pleaded guilty to obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty and assaulting him. and John Martin to behaving in a threatening manner and obstructing the constable Each was remanded in custody so that inquiries could be made as to whether they could be accommodated in the detention centre

Booth appeared for sen-

tence on charges of using obscene language and escaping from lawful custody, aiid Kevin Martin on a charge of wilful damage. Edhouse had gone to the rescue of a friend being questioned by the constable, said Mr Grubi.

He had admitted placing his hand on the constable’s jacket, but it had not been until after he had been struck five times with a truncheon that he had retaliated with two blows It should be made clear, said the Magistrate, that the series of events occurred over a period and he knew nothing of the matters mentioned by Mr Grubi. Dealing with Booth, the Magistrate said his escaping from the constable’s custody when the trouble started indicated that he was not so aggressive as he was in his talk. Booth was convicted and fined the maximum £2O and costs on the obscene language charge and convicted and fined £3O and costs on the charge of escaping from lawful custody. He was also placed on probation for one year.

Kevin Martin was convicted and fined £5 and costs, and ordered to pay restitution of £3 on the wilful damage charge.