A ‘Real Life Drama’ For Televiewers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 20

A ‘Real Life Drama’ For Televiewers

(New Zealand Press AMOciatlonj

HAMILTON, May 2.

Six young Hamilton men appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges resulting from a fracas on Friday night that sent two policemen to hospital, and that provided some late-evening television viewers with something extra.

The six are Howard Edwards, aged 23, of 7 Milton street; lan Gordon Cameron, aged 17, of 8 Ulster street; Arthur W. F. Wakelin, aged 22, of 22 Maeroa road; Leslie William Motu. aged 19, of 10 Haig street; Robert Clide Beattie, aged 20, of Hampton Court, Knox street; and Christopher Howard Melsop, aged 19. of 112 Greenwood street.

They appeared before Mr A. D. Bain. J.P, who remanded them all to appear in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and said they could go free on bail of £5O each. Edwards and Beattie each face two charges of assault, Cameron and Melsop one charge of assault, Motu a charge of assault and a charge of obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty, and Wakelin one charge of obstruction. A seventh young man surrendered to police soon after the others had appeared in Court and another Court session was quickly arranged. Gary Clarence Carter, aged 21, of 24 Maeroa road, was charged with using obscene language and escaping from lawful custody. He was allowed £5O bail and remanded until Monday. Constables named as being assaulted are Barry Roy McPhee, Selwyn Knucky, and Edmund Alfred Barker. Constable McPhee and Traffic Officer G. Bryan were treated overnight at Waikato Hospital for concussion. No charge was made in connexion with Mr Bryan.

Television viewers heard bits and pieces of police calls that started early in the programme entitled “The Defenders.”

The first call was for police reinforcements to be sent to a house on Maeroa road. Mention was made of an officer being assaulted after following somebody on a motorcycle to the house.

Then a second call was made for help in a hurry. Not only reinforcements were requested, but also an ambulance.