ASSAULT IN PRISON

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30073, 6 March 1963, Page 15

ASSAULT IN PRISON

Three Charges Denied (N.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Mar. 5. A prisoner at the New Plymouth gaol denied in the Supreme Court at , New Plymouth today that he held a conversation with a prison officer in which he was alleged to have adopted a belligerent attitude toward another officer. He is William Maurice Corcoran, aged 35, who is standing trial on three counts arising from two alleged incidents at New Plymouth on February 11. He is charged with assaulting Douglas Eaton Macdonald with intent to injure, assaulting Macdonald and assaulting Donald Edward Radonich. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The Crown Prosecutor is Mr J. P. Quilliam, and Mr J. A. Dean represents Corcoran. Third Officer J. W. Trodd said in evidence that he had spoken to Corcoran in the prison kitchen when the accused adopted a belligerent attitude to Macdonald. He would bring evidence that the accused had nothing to do with the strike, said Mr Dean. For the alleged assault concerning Macdonald, the defence would be that it was an accident. The defence would deny that Corcoran hit Radonich. Someone did hit him and this person would give evidence, said Mr Dean. The Crown could allege that the words and gestures constituted an assault. The gestures would be denied but the words were not, said Mr Dean. The accused and others would give evidence that Radonich struck Corcoran on the mouth and it was after this the words were used, said Mr Dean. The case will continue today.