Witnesses Describe Fracas At Party

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 18

Witnesses Describe Fracas At Party

(Ne«u Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 12. A constable told the Supreme Court at Auckland today how he had returned to a parly in Ponsonby, on August 17, which he had left earlier that night, to find “the place in a mess and all my friends there nursing their injuries." The constable, James Arnold Sutton, who was off duty at the time, said there was then no sign of any intruders.

Eight accused are standing trial on six charges of assault with intent to injure and each faces one charge of wilful damage to the flat. The accused are Patrick Joseph McGinty, aged 21, a butcher, Sham us McGinty, aged 19. a labourer, lan Ricirard Henry, aged 19, an apprentice mechanic, Charles Richard Mita, aged 19. a Labourer, Brian Charles Marsom, aged 17. a commercial artist. Fritz. Lotam, aged 18, a laundry worker. Leslie Charles Clemm, aged 19. a storeman, and Adam Anzac Ratana, aged 18, a painter.

Sutton said that before leaving the party he had helped to eject five youths from the flat. He had heard Ken Reid, one of the occupiers of the flat, tell them: “We don’t want you here— So will you go?" One of the youths had replied: "We’re not going. You'll have to throw us out if you want us to go.” Sutton said that after being ejected, the youths had gone off in a car and he had heard one say. "We will be back." William Worrall, a constable, said he dropped off to sleep after the five youths were put out. He was wakened by "banging” going on. He said the first thing he saw was youths fighting with guests at the party. As he attempted to get up out of his seat three youths knocked him down. Worrall said he received a cut above the right eye, a closed right eye and a blackened left eye. and abrasions and cuts about the face. A detective constable. Anthony Isddop Tremewan. said he arrived at the party at about 11.45 p.m. At about 12.45 a.m. there was a knock at the front door About 10 youths "barged in." Tremewan said he was hit about the head with some object and was punched about the face. He lost consciousness. He came to in the kitchen of the flat

He did not see any of the group who came in sufficiently well to identify them-

He received a black eye. abrasions about the face and a deep gash on the back of the head.

Malcolm Arthur Mitchell, a constable said he arrived at tire party at about 11.35 p.m. with three friends. A group of youths "burst in” at about 12.30 a.m. among them Ratana and Patrick McGinty. Mitchell said his immediate reaction was to protect his girl-friend, who was sitting beside him. Patrick McGinty struck him on the right cheek, said Mitchell. He was also struck on the left hand and on the head with "something hard” and that he then went into semi-consciousness. Kenneth William Jones, a clerk, said he was struck with an extension pipe from a vacuum cleaner and was kicked in the face. He received a broken nose, bruising and cuts to the face. He identified Lotam as one of the intruders. The trial will be continued tomorrow.