Gaoled For Threat To Kill P.M.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30965, 22 January 1966, Page 3

Gaoled For Threat To Kill P.M.

(Sew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 21.

Described by his counsel as “an extremely patriotic Rhodesian,” Edward Samuel MacDonald, aged 21, of Lower Hutt, was today sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment when he appeared in the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court on four charges of burglary 7 and one of threatening by letter to kill the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

MacDonald was sentenced by Mr J. F. Keane, S.M.. who also recommended that MacDonald be deported after he had served his prison sentence.

MacDonald pleaded guilty to all the charges.

A fifth burglary charge, to which MacDonald pleaded not guilty, was dismissed for lack of evidence.

The Magistrate sentenced MacDonald to nine months’ imprisonment on each of the burglary charges, to run concurrently. and 12 months’ imprisonment on the threat charge. Detective-Sergeant J. S. Kuzmich asked for the deportation order. For MacDonald, Mr J. A. Tannahill said that his client was an extremely patriotic Rhodesian.

MacDonald was agitated by Mr Holyoake's reaction to the Rhodesian crisis, and thought New Zealand would interfere. In sending the letter as an acknowledgement of protest he thought he was speaking for other Rhodesians as well.

“He is quite adamant that he had no desire to carry out the threat—it was only to register protest,” Mr Tannahill said.

The Magistrate said the threat to kill the Prime

i Minister could only be viewed in a most serious light. “Heads of government are called upon to make difficult decisions which may prove unpopular to some, but in a democracy violence or threats are not allowed to interfere in such decisions,” he said. “This is a peaceful country, and we don’t believe such things could happen here. There are tragic examples of it happening in other countries.”

The burglary charges, the Magistrate said, showed evidence of cunning and preparation.

“Although you are a first offender you did not commit them because of sudden temptation,” the Magistrate said to MacDonald. He added that because he intended to recommend deportation the sentence was lighter than it would have been otherwise.

Referring to the burglary charges, Mr Tannahill said MacDonald had been trying to send his family back to Rhodesia. “MacDonald is a hard worker in his job, but ' desired more money to send his family home,” Mr TannaI hill said.