Magistrate’s Court Convicted Of Careless Driving Causing Death

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30937, 18 December 1965, Page 23

Magistrate’s Court Convicted Of Careless Driving Causing Death

Charged with carelessly using a truck and causing the death of Alan Malcolm Jones, a schoolboy, on August 31. Mervyn Richard Low, aged 19. a truck driver, was convicted and fined £3O. ordered to pay £l3 witnesses’s expenses, and disqualified from driving for 18 months by Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Low (Mr G. S. Brockett) pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that Jones was on a bicycle near the middle of Ferry road before turning into Richardson avenue when he was struck by a truck driven by Low at 4.50 p.m. Jones died soon after he arrived in hospital. In his statement to the police Low said he was dazzled by the sun reflecting from the windscreen of an oncoming car. He did not see Jones until after the impact. There was no evidence of excessive speed, said the Magistrate. Low's only lack of care was that he failed to keep the proper look-out required of the normal, prudent driver. The Magistrate said he was satisfied that Low had an unobstructed view and should have seen Jones. “As a result of a momentary lack of attention this unfortunate boy lost his life,” said the Magistrate.

An application by Mr Brockett for Low to be allowed to drive during his employment was refused. (Before Mr H. J. Evant, S.M.) FINED £2O On a charge of driving when forbidden by a constable to do so on Oclober 15, John Eric Coburn, aged 21, a driver (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and fined £2O. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant P. J. Ally said that Coburn was a passenger in a car driven erratically In Colombo street on October 15. Both he and the owner of the car had been drinking, and both were forbidden to drive tor four hours. The car keys were held at the Central Police Station, but Coburn later crossed the ignition wires and drove the car away because he wanted it for work the next morning. SUSPENDED SENTENCE Esther Poata, aged 17, a housemaid, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence 1/ called upon within 12 months when she appeared on a charge of being' Idle and disorderly at Lyttelton on December It in that she had Insufficient lawful means of support. A condition of the suspended sentence is that Poata, who pleaded guilty, returns to Wellington. ‘ Sergeant AJty said that at 1.30 p.m. on December 18 Poata was seen leaving the Chilean Reefer at Lyttelton. She told the police that she arrived in Lyttelton by the ferry from Wellington the Crevlous day. and had been on oard the ship since. She had £1 In her possession. The Magistrate said that Poata was already on probation for two yeara.

DECMtON RESERVED Decision was reserved when th* heirinc of evidence waa concluded on charge* against Jack Leonard Boughton. aged 37. a cable factor; foreman (Mr W. Brown), of careloo* driving earning injur; and falling to report an accident on Jul; 1. Ro pleaded not guUt;. CHARGE DISMISSED A charge of assault on November a. again** TWanl Pacevekl. aged 43, ■ gai welder (Mr M. G. L. Loughnan). waa dl*mi*eed. Th* caie had been adjourned part-heard from December S. REMANDED Simon Patrick CaManan, aged 23. a workman (Mr G. R. Larceilco). waa remanded in cuatod; to December 20 on a charge of unlawfutl; taking a car on December It. TRAFFIC CASES In traffic proa*cutiona by th* police conviction* were entered and tines imposed a* follow*: Caroles* use: Georg* William Coppard, £10; Arnie Anton Vhrbon, £8; Murray James Thomaa, £l5; Richard Rang! KaraiUana. £l5 and dlsquallfled for nin* month* (no warrant of fltneaa. costa only); Lester James Herron. £7; Terrenes Michael Noble. £7. Failed to notify change of ownership: Gavin John McKay. £1 10s; Allan Hugh Blaek, fl Its; Robert Grant Davidson. £1 10s; Christopher Roydon Harrison, £l. No warrant of fltne**: Cecil Findlay McNamara, 10*; Bruce Arthur Ramsay. £3; Murray Joseph Reason, 10s. Failed to give way to right: Peter Wayne Davis, £l3; Mattoua Gysbertus van Vuuren, £lO. Failed to give way at pedestrian crossing: Rita Philomena McGahey, £4. Failed to report damage: Peter John McCaughan, £3 10*. Failed to give way at give-way sign: Roderick Bryan Gardiner, £l5: Neville Alexander Peebles Smith. £lO. disqualified for three months. Exceeded 30 mile* an houri James Burnie Taylor, £O.