Magistrate’s Court Salesman Charged With Failing To Stop

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 18

Magistrate’s Court Salesman Charged With Failing To Stop

A salesman facing charges arising from an accident at Sumner on March 11 would be suffering punishment before his trial if his name were to be published, his counsel told Mi- H. J. Evans, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The man, aged 40, was charged with failing to stop, failing to stop and report an accident to the police, and failing to ascertain if any person was injured. In the accident concerned a girl, Anita Marie Christenson, was hurt in Nayland street, Sumner. ' The man was represented yesterday by Mr L. M. O’Reilly, who said the charges would be defended. They were adjourned to May 21. Asking for continued suppression of the man’s name, Mr O’Reilly said a tremendous amount of publicity had been aroused as a result of the accident.

If his name was published it would be impossible for him to continue as a salesman.

That would mean that he would be suffering punishment before his trial. Publication of names was one of the toughest punishments, said Mr O’Reilly, and he understood there had already been comments made to the Court by persons who were concerned that the name had been suppressed. “This shows that they are condemning him before he has been heard,” said Mr O’Reilly. He said suppression should be continued because of the effect publication could have on the man’s life and business, before the facts had been put before the Court. The Magistrate said the Court must exercise its own discretion, irrespective of what was said by the public or anyone. Exercising that discretion, he ordered con-

tinued suppression of the salesman's name. TO SUPREME COURT Ross Corcoran Murray, aged 38, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on 18 charges of false pretences and one of credit by fraud. The charges involved about £252 Ils 4d. Murray also appeared on a warrant for failing to appear for sentence in the Magistrate's Court on April 29. “1 was detained.” he told the Magistrate when asked for an explanation. CARELESS USE A plea of not guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle, by Wayne Kingsford Lindsay (Mr S. G. Erber) was not sustained, and he was fined £4. Costs and witnesses’ expenses were also £4 Evidence was given that cars had stopped on the Main North road Waimakariri bridge for a police road block on February 27. There had been a bumper to bumper collision. Defendant's car was one of those involved in the multiple collision. The accident occurred about 8.30 p.m. Constable Peter Barry Gillingham said the vehicles had been following each other too closely. When torches had been waved at them, the drivers had at first taken no notice. Then the first vehicle braked suddenly, in spite of efforts to wave it past to avoid a collision.

Mr Erber said the line of traffic had to stop suddenly because of something unexpected, and there was doubt as to who had collided with whom. He submitted the charge should be dismissed

There had been a considerable conflict of evidence, the Magistrate said.

The accident need never have occurred if the police had taken more care to warn motorists, Mr Erber said. This was shown by another accident happening there the same evening. Perhaps the police did not have the lights required for such situations. Replying to “this criticism

of the police." Senior Sergeant G. M. Cleary, the prosecutor. said motorists should be able to stop in half the clear distance ahead. “I agree with counsel it was an understandable sort of mishap,” the Magistrate said. “But I must not be understood to b* laying any blame at the door of the police.. The police are not on trial." TWO-WHEEL TURN Peter Thomas Clement, aged 18. a soldier, admitted driving in a dangerous manner at Riverton. Southland, on March 6. and was fined £lO. He was disqualified from holding a drivers' licence for one year. Sergeant V. F. Townshend said the Riverton constable heard Clement’s car approaching a T-intersection at speed at 6.28 p.m. on March 6. The car made a right turn on two wheels, became out of control, and would have overturned if the passenger side wheels had not hit the kerb. Clement said he had not driven the car before, and the kingpins were later found to be “shot.” REMANDED

Kay Ching, aged 71. appeared on a charge of being a person concerned in the management of premises used for smoking opium. Long Wing Chan, aged 62, was charged with being the occupier of premises used for the storage of dangerous drugs. Ng Bing, aged 76, was charged with being in possession of dangerous drugs, and being in possession of a pipe used in connexion with the smoking of opium. All charges were dated April 29. Henry Tahu, aged 31, was remanded to May 6 on a

charge of breaking and entering a house at 35 Papanui road on April 29 with intent to commit a crime. TRAFFIC OFFENCES In traffic charges brought bv the police offenders were dealt with as follows, with costs of £1 10s in each case: Failed to give way: Anthony Gordon Peterson. £l5: Frederick Casbolt. £3; Harold Ernest Mav £5: Kawal Reuben Tukau. £l2 10s: Anthony Dagfln Coberger, £10: David Graeme Booth fin and disqualified for one month tno warrant of fitness. £i>. Edward John Curtin. £7: Richard Graham Denton. 15: Mervyn Richard Low. £2O: Ronald John McMasters. fS: Patrick Dennis Treves. £lO Careless use of a motor vehicle: Bart Hula Dean, £lO Maurice Stanley Rossiter. £7; Frank Richard Oakshott. £10: Phillip Hathaway Hey. £0: Brian Anderson. £7; Francis Albert Jackson. £7 (failed to atop after accident. £20); Heather Mary Leigh. £S: Sonny James Rollerton. £2O: Charles Henry Macilquham. £2O: Ronald McLellan Williamson. £7; Leonard Alfred Ford. £lO (failed to ascertain if anv person injured. £1 10s>. Failed to give way at gne wav sign: Arthur Henry Evans. £O. Failed to give way when turning right: William Anderson. £lO. No warrant of fitness: Peter Oliver. 10s. Opening a car door In a manner likely to cause Injury, John Frederick Callister, £.l. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headllen, S.M.) FINED £2O James Kelvin Smith, aged 25. a general hand (Mr J. W. Dalmer) pleaded not guilty to a charge of careless driving in the grounds of Mount Magdala convent on January 8, causing the death of Frances Campbell. He was convicted and fined £2O. Dr. P. A. E. Smith, a Sathologist, said that Miss ampbell had died of shock and hemorrhage due to traumatic rupture of the aorta. The Magistrate found that Smith had not exercised the duty of care required of him Sergeant Townshend appeared for the police.