Escaper’s Objection To Remand Refused

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 8

Escaper’s Objection To Remand Refused

(New Zealand Press Association)

WANGANUI, Aug. 31. Charles Gillen, aged 67, hairdresser, charged with escaping from the Wanganui Prison on August 7, again asked in the Magistrate’s Court today that he not be further remanded on the charge, saying that he would plead not guilty and go to the Supreme Court for trial. He had first requested that he not be remanded when he appeared on the charge before a Justice of the Peace last week. Detective-Sergeant P. W. Harkness, telling Mr B. S. Barry, S.M., that inquiries were not yet complete, asked that Gillen be remanded to September 15. “Your Worship, I'd ask that you do not grant the remand,” Gillen interrupted. “The police have had since the seventh of the month. “Get It Over”

“It means my plea will be not guilty and I would like to get it over with and get into the Supreme Court sitting,” he said. (The next quarterly session of the Supreme Court at Wanganui begins tomorrow).

Told by the Magistrate that he would not be able to get into the Supreme Court until the November sessions, Gillen said he had thought, his case would be dealt with today. There were no other charges against him, he said. “It’s obvious that you are already serving a prison sentence,” Mr Barry replied. “Why do you object to the remand?” “Because of the circumstances regarding why I’m in prison in the first place. I’ve

always claimed my innocence,” Gillen said. Telling Gillen that depositions could not be taken for a fortnight, however, the Magistrate remanded Gillen to September 15, as requested by Detective-Sergeant Harkness. Gillen, when asked if he consented, said it appeared that he had no alternative.