Police Attacked At Party

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 17

Police Attacked At Party

(NJE. Press Association)

INVERCARGILL. Jan. 22. A police sergeant received cracked riba, Mack eye* and was severely bruised, and a constable was slightly injured when they were set upon by about 12 Maoris in Bluff road. Invercargill on Saturday night, Mr J. K. Patterson, SM., was told in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The attack by the mob was made after the arrest of one of its numbers. Pouring out of a party which was in progress in a house, the mob threw the policemen to the ground, held them down, and kicked and punched them, the Court was told. One youth banged the constable’s head on the pavement and screaming; “We’ll kill him.'* To prevent the officers calling for help their radio was damaged.

The assault continued until the mob tired of it, said Senior-Sergeant J. G. Williams. Before the Magistrate, charged with assaulting a police constable while executing his duty, were three youths who took part in the disturbance. All pleaded guilty. They were Keri Wright Stephens, who faced two charges and was said to

have played “a major part” in the disturbance. Matchitt Haiti and Johnny Poihakena Jackson, ail freezing workers aged 20. Senior Sergeant Williams sMd the assault occurred just after Sergeant Colin Graham and Constable Peter Walter Thomas Rosewarne had arrested a man. The Maoris, who came out of the party tried to rescue the man as he was being placed in the van. They set

upon Constable Roeewarne. He was dragged down by Stephens and three others who were punching and kicking him. sergeant Graham received his injuries when he tried to help Constable Roeewarne. The Maoris threw the sergeant over a fence and jumped on him. Throughout the disturbance Stephens, who "went berserk” urged the others on. The Magistrate remanded the accused until January 28. Bail was refused. The man whose arrest started the brawl, Paul Kirweti Williams, aged 22, a freezing worker, also appeared before the Court on charges of assault and wilful damage, both of which he admitted. He was sent to gaol for seven days and was also fined £l5.