£480 TO PROVE INNOCENCE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30512, 6 August 1964, Page 20

£480 TO PROVE INNOCENCE

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, Aug. 3. The mother of an 18-year-old youth acquitted of stealing a pair of sunglasses will refuse to pay what it cost to prove his innocence. Mrs Mary Fels, of Brisbane, said today: “My son- was found not guilty—but his bill still came to £4Bl 12s 3d. “What a price for an innocent person to pay!”

Total legal costs in the case came to more than £l2OO.

Mrs Fels’s son, Dennis, was charged more than a year ago with having stolen a pair of sunglasses, worth 255, from Alexander Carter, an architect.

There were 14 remands before a jury found him not guilty after a three-day trial in the Brisbane district court. Mr Carter, who had gone to

New Guinea, was issued with a subpoena in Port Moresby and brought back to Brisbane for the case. He told the Judge the charge had been laid against his wish.

He said he could not identify the sunglasses as his property. Mrs Fels said today: “Why should I be called upon to pay more than £4BO in legal costs to prove that my son is not a thief?

“I thought that when Dennis was cleared the Government would pay his costs. “I haven’t got £5OO to pay the bill. I haven’t even 500 crackers.” She said she had been to see the Minister of Justice, Dr. Delamothe, who “told me he was very pleased that my son had won the case.” MrS Fels said she was still hoping Dr. Delamothe would be able to do something to help her. The sunglasses were supposed to have disappeared from a car that had crashed, she said. Her son tried to help the police “and the next thing he was charged.” “It’s no wonder he’s bitter,” she said.