Young Woman Gaoled For Fictitious Message

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 14

Young Woman Gaoled For Fictitious Message

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept 9. A young woman who left a fictitious telephone message for the All Black, Kelvin Tremain, saying his brother was killed in a car accident, originally intended to wish him the “best of luck,” counsel told Mr R. D. Jamieson, S.M., today. The woman, Julie Mary Patricia Stevenson, aged 23, waitress, was described by Mr J. A. L. Gibson as a person who had a history, from an early age, of indulging in fantasy. Stevenson was appearing for sentence on a charge that on August 29 she wilfully gave a fictitious telephone saying that she received a .telegram from Mrs Tremain requesting that Kel vin Tr'emain be informed his brother had been killed in a car accident two hours earlier.

Saying that it was an utterly callous and contemptible offence, the Magistrate gaoled her for 14 days. Mr Gibson said that his client could • not really say what made her leave the mes-

sage. She had instructed, him, he said, that she did not know Tremain and, at the time she had telephoned the hotel Where Tremain was staying, she had intended to wish him the best of luck in the test match.

However, she was told by the operator that she could not speak to any of the team unless it was a “case of life or death.” Stevenson had then left the fictitious message, saying the news should be broken to Tremain after the game. Mr Gibson said that Stevenson did not even know if Tremain had a brother, ■but it had transpired that Tremain had two brothers. After the game, she telephoned the hotel and said the message was a hoax. She had been told to ring back again at 7.30 p.m. that day, but she had not rung until the next morning. Again - she pointed out that the message was 9 hoax. As far as Stevenson was concerned it was a sad matter, said counsel. It appeared that from a young age she had'indulged in fantasy. Her actions were more irrational than malicious. '

Mr Gibson said that it may have been the operator’s query: “Is it a matter of life or death,” that had prompted Stevenson’s actions. She did not fully realise at the time the harm she was causing by leaving the message. “In my opinion it was utterly callous and it appears that you do not realise how callous and contemptible it was,” said the Magistrate. “It appears that periodically you seek to draw attention to yourself through your actions.”

Earlier this year Stevenson had been examined by a psychiatrist. He reached the conclusion Stevenson indulged in fantasy, was a blatant liar, and had an almost “couldn’t care less” attitude. The Magistrate said he was told probation would not be of any use, and on this offence Stevenson was liable to 12 months’ imprisonment.