Prisoner Acquitted Of Assaulting Warder

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 8

Prisoner Acquitted Of Assaulting Warder

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Nov. 6. A jury in the Supreme Court at Auckland today acquitted a prisoner in the Auckland prison on alternative charges of injuring a warder and assault. The accused was Kenneth Rex Bsassell aged 24. Harold .Taylor, a third officer at the prison, said Brassell tried several times to gouge out tihe eyes of a warder after biting, punching and throwing a bucket of near-boiling water over him.

Taylor said thait after some words about utensils found in another prisoner’s cell, he was struck by Brassell. After closing with Brassell and trying to restrain him, witness was attacked and attempts made to gouge out his eyes.

Two other officers came to his aid when Brassell started shouting and cursing. Ma'lvem John Tipa, a barman, said he ms in Brassell’s ceM when Taylor arrived. He alleged he heard Taylor say: “Have a go,’’ or something like that. Tipa said he saw the bucket fail over, but he did not see how this happened.

Peter Gaetamo Fama, a medical practitioner employed by the Auckland Hospital Board, said be examined Taylor after tihe incident.

Taylor had a lacerated left ear —which was stitched—bruises about the face and second degree burning of tihe left ankle. Brassell said that he and Taylor had a discussion about some kitchen utensils which he had left in Tipe’s cell.

"We were both fairly hot under the collar” he said.

Some part of Taylor hit the bucket, said Brassell, who said he jumped back into his cell, leaving the bucket, and Taylor then tripped over it. upsetting it Brassell said he walked out of the cell on to the landing. Taylor followed and "came straight ait me’.” "His knee hit me tn the crutch. That is when I retaiiaiied for the first time. I hit him in the face with my head because he was holding my hands.’’ The two men struggled for some time, said Brassell. befor two other prison officers arrived and took him away.

Tf our methods and techniques and the long formation which our educators impose on themselves do not culminate in making man a little more free and in rousing in him the elan of love, all these things are not worth one hour of trouble.—Andre Godin.