ACTIONS OF POLICE
Complaint By Counsel The police had attempted to usuro the function of the Court and had made a mockery of the system of bail, said Mr R. G. Blunt to Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr Blunt was appearing for Neil James Munro, aged 49, who was charged with false pretences involving £24 on October 20.
Senior-Sergeant G. M. Cleary applied for a remand to November 18, and Mr Blunt applied lor bail. Mr Blunt said that Munro absconded when placed on bail for a previous offence and was released on bail again when he appeared before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court on November 6. Of the two sureties ordered, one was not approved. Mr Blunt said he was told that if Munro were released he would be arrested on further charges. On Tuesday, Mr Blunt said, he was told that the accused had committed other crimes while on bail. Mr Blunt said he obtained a second surety, who was approved by the registrar of the Court on Tuesday afternoon. A visit was made to the prison, and after some discussion Munro was allowed out. A detective arrived and objected X Munro’s being let out, and when Munro was released he was immediately arrested on the charge on which he now appeared. Three complaints were made by Mr Blunt. One was that the change was not made before 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday when the matter was known to be going before the Court. The second complaint was that the prosecutor was not authorised to advise counsel that Munro would be charged on Tuesday. Third, the time of two responsible citizens, Munro’s brother and counsel, had been wasted, said Mr Blunt.
“Mr Blunt was well aware of the position regarding the waste of time—he knew what was going ot happen,” said Senior-Sergeant Cleary. The police were entitled to arrest a person without a warrant where there was sufficient evidence to do so, he said, and he “strongly and strenuously opposed bail.” Ball was refused after a further hearing in chambers.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 11
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353ACTIONS OF POLICE Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 11
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