ASSAULT AT PARTY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 11

ASSAULT AT PARTY

Man And Wife Fined

Five charges of assault against a husband and wife were heard before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. George Morrison, aged 30. an insulator erecter, pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting Barry Russell Smith, Neil Munro Bates Fleming, John Noel Phillips, and Gordon Edward Munro on December 13. He was convicted of assaulting Smith, Fleming, and Phillips. The charge involving Munro was dismissed. Senior-Sergeant G. M. Cleary said that Munro had not been advised of the hearing and was out of Christchurch. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate said he was not prepared to convict on this charge. For assaulting Smith, Morrison was fined £l5 and on each of the other two charges he was fined £5. Gwen Morrison, aged 27. a machinist, who pleaded not guilty to assaulting Smith and to wilfully damaging his shirt, was convicted of both offences. For assault she was fined £5, and on the other charge she was ordered to pay costs.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully damaging a pane of glass and was convicted and fined £3. Mr J. H. F. Macfarlane appeared for both accused.

Smith said in evidence that during a social evening he organised for his firm in the Woolston R.S.A. rooms he told the two accused to leave, and Morrison struck him five hard blows. Morrison was seized by two other men, and with his head split the lips of both. Smith said that after he telephoned the police he helped to hold Morrison. Morrison’s wife then tore at his neck with her nails, and ripped his shirt beyond repair. Neither accused was sober.

Convicting the accused, the Magistrate said it was clear that liquor had played a considerable part in the brawl. The Court had a duty to protect persons who attended social functions and behaved themselves.

Senior-Sergeant Cleary said that Morrison had quite an extensive record of violence.