£56 12s For Mother Of Assault Victim

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 12

£56 12s For Mother Of Assault Victim

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 27.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal has awarded the widowed mother of a man who died after being attacked in Hagley Park, Christchurch, £4O 17s for expenses incurred by her and £l5 15s legal expenses. In January last year Alan Charles Arthur Aberhart was found seriously injured* in Hagley Park. He died the same night.

Six youths were later charged with manslaughter and found not guilty.

In its decision, released today, the tribunal found that whether or not the crime of manslaughter was committed, Aberhart’s death resulted from the commission of at least assault, one of the offences in the schedule to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act, 1963. The tribunal found that

Aberhart, aged 37 and unmarried, paid his widowed mother £3 a week board, paid the rates and telephone, and bought items for the home worth about £2 a week.

His mother, through illhealth, was often unable to do normal housework and her son did almost all the inside work, such as washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning.

The decision made it clear that the award was not compensation for pecuniary loss.

In another decision, the tribunal awarded an assault vic-

tim, William Douglas Dean, of Thomson avenue, Hamilton, £37 18s 6d compensation, including £9 10s loss of earnings and £3 8s 6d expenses, and £25 for pain. James Davidson Port, of Whitmore street, Christchurch, was awarded £lO for pain and suffering after being assaulted, and £2 2s legal expenses.