Magistrate’s Court Committed For Trial On Assault Charge

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 11

Magistrate’s Court Committed For Trial On Assault Charge

Evidence that a hatchet had been used by the defendant against a police constable who surprised him on business premises in the early hours of October 16 was given in a case against John Joseph Hill, aged 22, a workman (Mr G. R. Lascelles), heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Hill was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Christchurch on charges of assault in avoiding arrest in respect of crime, and entering a building with intent. He pleaded not guilty. Messrs L. C. Fulford and E L. Tinker. Justices of the Peace, presided. After he saw a car turn, park and douse its lights near 48 Tuam street. the premises of Auto Parts, Ltd., about 1 a.m. on October 16. he became suspicious, said Constable A. R. McFarlane. With a watchman he entered the premises. About 2.30 s.m . the watchman left and Constable McFarlane concealed himself in the yard, the Court was told. “I waited on my own. About 3.30 a.m.. I saw a figure climb over the west wall surrounding Auto Parts. This person had a torch in his hand. I saw him walk up the yard to the main entrance. He walked down the yard towards me. I stepped out and shone the torch in his face. I asked him what he was doing there. He replied Tm only looking for a part.’ I then escorted him to a position near the rear door of the main premises where I intended to search him,” said Constable McFarlane. "Without warning he pulled a small hatchet from the back pocket of his jeans. I grabbed the hatchet. In the ensuing struggle I

dropped my torch. I received a blow on the head in the darkness. The defendant then made off. I chased him down the yard and saw him commence to climb the fence near where he came over. I grabbed his legs and pulled him to the ground and held him. He then said, ‘Give me a chance. I was only looking for a part.’ He told me his name was Jim, and that he was married and had a 12-months-old daughter. . . . “I was trying to find my | handcuffs. Blood was seep- ■ ing into my eyes. I was unable to hold him and he J climbed the fence and escaped from me, said the witness. “After going to the police station for assistance and searching the premises I went to the Christchurch Hospital where I received three stitches in the wound in my head.” Constable McFarlane said > he later identified his assaili ant, from photographs, as iJohn Joseph Hill. : On October 21, with Detective D. Porteus, after searching hotels and Cathedral square for some days, he saw Hill in the private bar of the Clarendon Hotel. ‘‘l positively identified this person. It was the defend■ant. It was definitely the I man who had been on the J premises at Auto Parts.” j Detective Porteus, asked iby Mr Lascelles why the < police did not go straight to ! Hill’s flat to arrest him if he i had been identified by photographs, said the search had been made in town in fairness to the defendant. “It was much fairer to have Constable McFarlane identify him in a crowded place, than in the confines of a flat, where there would have been only a few people,” he said.