Supreme Court INTERFERED WITH CAR

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 12

Supreme Court INTERFERED WITH CAR

Man Remanded For Sentence A man told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that his fingerprints found by police on a car window were left there when he forced the window open to rescue a baby in distress. He said the “baby” had turned out to be a cat under the car. The jury convicted Norman William Bradley, aged 26, a workman, of unlawfully interfering with the vehicle, and acquitted him on a charge of stealing a travelling rug from the back seat.

Bradley was represented by Mr R. G. Blunt and the Crown by Mr I. C. J. Polson. Mr Polson said the sole evidence against Bradley was the fact that his fingerprints were found on the window of the car from which the rug was stolen. Robert James McNeely, a music teacher, said he parked his car in Allen street, off lower Manchester street, at midday on July 19 and checked that all doors and windows were locked He returned at 9 p.m. to find the back right-hand door open, and the window down. Bradley said in evidence that he and two friends were walking around' looking at used-car yards whe n they heard what seemed to be a baby crying in a car in Allen street. He looked in the window and saw what appeared to be a carry-cot, and forced the window down to open the door. When he found the “carry-cot” was a box he closed the door again, and as they walked off a cat ran out from under the car.

Bradley said he told the police he had not been in Allen street because he was afraid they would not believe tha t he had not stolen the rug.

Similar evidence was given by James Alexander Campbell, a driver, and by Bradley’s brother-in-law, Lloyd Harden. Mr Justice Macarthur remanded Bradley in custody for sentence on Friday.