DEMONSTRATION POOL AT HOME OF REID MURRAY DIRECTOR

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30533, 31 August 1964, Page 11

DEMONSTRATION POOL AT HOME OF REID MURRAY DIRECTOR

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) PERTH, August 30. Evidence for the defence has been concluded in the criminal court trial over a swimming pool at the home of Peter Charles Sullivan, aged 42. Sullivan and John Lawrence Simpson, aged 34, are charged on three counts of stealing. They are the former joint managing directors of Reid Murray Develop-

ments (Western Australia) Pty., Ltd., and of two subsidiary companies, Brenton Buildings and Capitol Constructions, Pty., Ltd. The charges are that in 1961 they stole £2Bl on February 27, 821 bricks on or about March 8 and a quantity of electrical fittings on or about May 3. It is alleged that the money and goods belonged to Brenton Buildings. The Crown says that a cheque for £2Bl was used to buy a filtration plant for Sullivan’s pool and that the bricks and electrical fittings

were used in construction of the pool. Simpson, the last witness called for the defence, said he thought an enormous potential existed in Perth for swimming pools at people’s homes. He and Sullivan decided early in December. 1962, that an experimental and demonstration pool would be built at Sullivan’s home. He did not take any part in the actual building of the pool, but he knew it was built by Brenton Buildings. It had been estimated that the pool would cost £lO4O. In March, 1964, Barclay Pty., Ltd., a subsidiary of Development Finance Corpora-

htion, gave a refund to Brenton concerning the pool. ; Barclay made the adjust ■ ment because it would get the • benefit of future swimming ■ pool business. This adjustment was one of I 42 financial adjustments made : t > date. Amounts of £13,000 • still had to be adjusted. Simpson said he had no knowledge of the book-keep- : ing of the Brenton and Capi- ■ tol companies. The liquidator of Reid Murray Holdings, of Melbourne, : knew about the swimming pool at Sullivan’s home. Counsel and Mr Justice Hale will address the jury on Monday.