Magistrate’s Court Fined £l5 For Assaulting Woman

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 8

Magistrate’s Court Fined £l5 For Assaulting Woman

Johnson Keith Lindley, aged 52, a garage proprietor (Mr B. McClelland), who pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mary Agnes Mclsaac in Colombo street on February 7, was convicted and fined £l5 by Mr N. M. Izard, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mrs Mclsaac said that Lindley approached her when she got into her parked car near the Colombo street overbridge. He asked her for payment for petrol, and became abusive. When she raised her hand to prevent him putting his head further in the window, he punched her in the face., To Mr McClelland, the witness admitted that she sometimes used the name Looker She said she did not. recall going to Cockram's Car Service Station in November last year and getting three gallons of petrol on credit. Mr McClelland named several service stations and asked: "Is it a fact that you make a habit of going around service stations, getting petrol, and not paying for it?"

“There is an agreement for this. My solicitor has it in hand," the witness replied. She denied slapping Lindley’s face before he hit her.

Lindley said he was rudely brushed aside by Mrs Mclsaac When he put his head in the window she slapped his face. He put his hand forward in case she tried to hit him again, and it struck her.

“I accept that there was some provocation,” the Magistrate said. “Whatever money, if any, she owed, did not justify hin approaching her tn the street." MONTH’S GAOL

Allan James Fraser, a tractor driver (Mr W. A. Wilson) was sent to gaol (or a month on a charge of driving while disqualified at Nelson on December 29.

Fra-er. who appeared for sentence, was fined £7 10s for driving without due care and attention and £5 for giving a false name and address, and was ordered to pay costs on a charge of having insufficient lights. His period of prohibition from driving was extended one year.

Your history shows a considerable lack of regard for your responsibilities as a citizen. a driver, and a husband." the Magistrate said.

ASSAULT A group watching races at the speedway at Templeton on March 30 was approached and ■picked on” by Wayne Patrick Collins, witnesses said. Collins, aged 20, a blacksmith’s apprentice (Mr M. J. Glue) pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault. He was convicted on one charge and fined £7 The other charge was dismissed Robin Charles Thompson said that Collins twisted his arm up his back. His brother. Richard Thompson, who intervened, was punched on the face Collins said the group tried to push him down the embankment His shirt was torn and he was struck below the belt. Then he punched Richard Thompson. There was some provocation but the assault on Richard Thompson was out of proportion, the Magistrate said He would dismiss the charge of assaulting Robin Thompson because it was a technical one 'Before Mr A P Blair, SM > 18 MONTHS' GAOL

Appearing for sentence on a charge of burglary at Picton on April 24. Kenneth Havward aged 39 a driver (Mr P Thompson 1. was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment Drink was at the bottom oi the trouble Mr Thompson said rhe offence was not a bad one of its type. "It seems useless to give vou another chance.” said the Magistrate. "If you want a.ssistance when you come out it will be available.”

THEFT OF WHISKY Kevin Barry Crannitch. aged 30 a plasterer (Mr R. G. Blunti was remanded on bail to May 17 for sentence on a charge ot stealing whisky valued at £lOO 2s.

Cranniteb’s ease had been part I heard on May 3 and adjourned to yesterday lor counsel to make further submissions. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge Mr Blunt referred to the evidence of Detective-Sergeant 3 W Wooders who said Craninitch had verbally admitted 1 stealing the whisky after he had been toid if he would not (assist the police his wife would I have to be Interviewed Mr Blunt submitted that this evidence should be ruled inadmissible as. wjule it was by no means suggested that this wgs intended, the remark might nave been taken by Crannitch a# implying a threat that his [wife might be annoyed or called -to give evider.ee unless he conI ’"es«ed Mr Blunt submitted that apar I from this verbaF confession and the unreliable evidence of an .ccomptice there was no evidence arainst Crannitch The Magistrate said the evidence indicated Crannitch was at least in the vicinity, and was sufficient to surround him with an swa of suspicion. He agreed with counsel that this was not sufficient to convict, and the ease depended on the statement or confession made by Cranmtch. It did not seem to him

that the detective’s remark was a threat or inducement. He held the evidence was admissible and. together with the otiier evidence, was sufficient' to prove the case.

Sergeant V. F. Townshend told the Court that Crannitch had 13 previous convictions. SIX MONTHS’ GAOL

Hector Alexander Moffat, aged 29 (Mr D. H. Stringer), was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. concurrent with sentences already imposed, when he pleaded guilty to' a charge of false prtences. Senior-Sergeant G. M. Cleary said the charge was one of a series which had been dealt with. It involved a false cheque for £52 which Moffat had cashed at the Drapery and General Importing Company. The accused was wanted on warrant in Australia. The Magistrate raid he would treat the matter as a washingup charge CHARGES ADMITTED Two girls who decided to take bicycles and ride round the city were convicted of unlawfully taking bicycles and remanded on bail to May 17 for sentence. Marilyn May Baker, aged 19, and Elaine Agnes Taylor, aged 18, both, machinists, were also jointly charged with theft of clothing worth £5 2s 6d and were remanded on this charge. The accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Sergeant B. D. Read said that the accused, who lived in a rooming - house in Kilmore street, decided to go to a house at the corner of Kilmore and Chester streets and steal some vegetables. Instead of vegetables. however, they took clothes off a line On Mfc 8 they took a man’s bicycle fivm an ally at Canterbury University and then a woman’s bicycle, which they found leaning against a pole. They abandoned the bicycles in Park terrace. ASSAULTED WIFE Charged with asasulting his wife on Maj’ 10. Michael John O’Connell, aged 39. a workman (Mr R. F. B. Perry), was convicted and fined £l5. He pleaded guilty. PARTY AT RESTAURANT When the police went to a city restaurant to investigate complaints of noise they found about 30 United Stales servicemen having a party, SeniorSergeant Cleary said when ■Charles Douglas Cowan aged 30. a restaurant manager (Mr B. McClelland), pleaded guilty i to a charge of allowing liquor I to be consumed on the restaui rant premises on February 11. Cowan was fined £ 3. i Senior-Sergeant Cleary said ! beer and other. liquor were in ' the restaurant and many of ; those present were drinking I Cowan had said it was a priIvate party and he did not think he required a permit He had said Hie door of the restaurant ! had been left open by mistake, md no members of the public aad been admitted. Mi McClelland said the Construction Battalion had a party ion Cowan’s premises six or ;eight months previously. The , party which was the cause of I tne charge was purely private, .and Cowan had supplied neither ■ food nor drinks. No money had changed hands. Cowan had supplied only the premises. THEFT AND BURGLARY Pleading guilty to three charges of theft and one of burglary Richard Nelson Neale, jged 20. a former airman (Mr W A Wilson), was remanded to May 17 for sentence. Bail was allowed. Sergeant Read said the charges concerned the theft Of two transistor radios, a cigarette lighter and a pen The articles had been stolen from the rooms of fellow airmen at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station. Wigram. in February. March and April Restitution of £3l j was sought. ■ Neale had now been dismissed from the Air Force I Sergeant Read said An application by Mr Wilson ilor suppression of name wai refused BURGLARY A youth whose name was suppressed (Mr J H M Dawson) was discharged under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act and ordered to pay £5 towards the cost of the prosecution when he appeared for sentence on a charee of burglars Mr Dawson said the boy came from a good home Since the incident from which the charge .resulted the boy’s attitude to his schoolwork had changed comHe had been led into the crime by another boy. who broke into the house and invited him to come in through the door. The boy had settled I down a lot since the offence took place about nine months previously STOLE £330 Using a ladder. Dominic Connerton entered a house at Ruatahuna. Rotorua, on Julv 20 IW. and took £330 from a suitcase Sergeant Read said Connerton, aged 23, a workman, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft He was remanded on bail for sentence on May 17 Connerton was living in the house at the time. Sergeant Read said- Later. Connerton t.ld the police that he bad spent the money on normal living costs STOLE GROCERIES On a charge of stealing groceries valued at Ils 9d from Wooluerths. Ltd , on April 20. a woman whose name was suo■vre sed (Mr M. J Glue) pleaded guilty and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon In 12 months She was ordered to pay £5 towards the cost of the prosecution. Mr Glue said it was an unusual case. The woman had admitted she had gone into the shop on previous occasions and stclea goods. She had said that when she went into the

shop site heard bells ringing and felt a sense of exultation. The case had a medical background INSULTING LANGUAGE Pleading guilty to using insulting language in Colombo street on May 13 and unlawfully taking a bicycle on February 21 and on Februray 22, Patricia .Maureen Crawford, aged 18 (Mr G R. Lascelles), .was convicted and remanded on bail to May 17 for sentence

Senior-Sergeant Cleary said a constable was on duty in Colombo street in an endeavour to locate two girls who were in the habit of abusing traffic officers on point duty. The accused used insulting language to the constable, but refused to give her name and address. She was then arrested. When intefview’ed about the taking of the bicycles she denied any knowledge of the offences. ADMITTED ASSAULT A fine of £lO was imposed on Upio Paul Veu, aged 27. a metal polisher, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault bn March 30. Sergeant Townshend said that a slight accident occurred at the intersection of Ferry road and Barbadoes street. The accused pulled the driver of the other car out on to the street and struck him several blows on the back. He later expressed his regret for his actions. DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR A man whose name was suppressed (Mr N. H. Buchanan) pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour in the public car park of the New Brighton Hotel on March, 23. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence in six months if called upon. Sen lor-Sergeant Cleary said the accused fought with another man in the car park. THEFT On a charge of stealing two sugar bags of potatoes valued at £1 5s and seven dozen eggs valued at £2 Ils. William Alexander Jarden, a labourer, aged 20 (Mr M. J. Glue), was remanded on bail to May 17 for sentence. He was ordered to report daily to the police. He pleaded guilty. WILFUL DAMAGE Pleading guilty to a charge of wilful damage to a barrel ot potato chips valued at £l, James Raymond Sullivan, aged 30, was fined £5 ami ordered to make restitution of £l. On a charge of being found drunk in a public place, to which he also pleaded guilty. Sullivan was fined £l. UNLAWFULLY ON PREMISES A youth, whose name was suppressed (Mr E. P.' Wills), was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called on when he F. leaded guilty to being unlawully on enclosed premises without intent at Sumner on March 29. LICENSING CHARGES Helmut Masur. licensee of the New Zealander Hotel, was fined £5 for selling liquor after hours on March 3. and he was convicted and discharged on a charge of opening the premises Cor sale on the same date. A plea of guilty to both charges was entered through Mr R. L. Kerr, who said Masur was on his way to Dunedin at the time. He was only vicariously responsible. Leslie William Jamieson, licensee of the Provincial Hotel, was fined £2 when he pleaded guilty to supplying liquor to ■to a minor on February 4. (Charges against him of selling ■ licuor to an intoxicated person and permitting drunkenness on licensed premises were dismissed. He pleaded not guilty to these charges and was represented by Mr B. McClelland The magistrate said there was 1 some doubt that the man served I was drunk

Pleading guilty to supplying liquor to a minor on February 4. Arnold Graham Pearce, aged 24. a barman, was fined £4

REMANDED John Victor McGuire, aged 33. unemployed iMr R. G. Blunt), was remanded to May 13 on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond in possession of housebreaking implements on May 3. and being a rogue and vagabond in being a suspected Gerson in a public place with felonious intent on the same date. .McGuire pleaded not guilty to both charges Michael William Gray, aged 18. a labourer <Mr M J Glue), was remanded to May 17 on a charge of theft to the value of £3 10s Bail was allowed

Clive Ross Hartley, aged 17. was remanded on bail to May 17 on a charge of assaulting a male on May 9. He pleaded not guilty