Magistrate’s Court Long List Of Police Traffic Prosecutions

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 20

Magistrate’s Court Long List Of Police Traffic Prosecutions

A list of 105 traffic prosecutions brought by the police was heard in the No. 1 Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch yesterday. Of the 105 cases called, 57 were adjourned, mostly as defended cases. It was not until almost the luncheon adjournment that cases in which counsel appeared were disposed of. This meant that persons appearing on their own behalf had to wait all morning, and return after lunch before their cases were heard.

In seeking an adjournment of the first of 43 defended cases yesterday, Mr R. G. Blunt suggested that much of the Court’s time was being wasted through lack of adjournments to a fixture date. “I’ve been told I should ask for an adjournment to February 4,” said Mr Blunt. “But this is the first of 43 defended cases to be adjourned to February 4—and the Court can’t possibly deal with 43 cases on February 4." It was inevitable, said Mr Blunt, that further adjournments would have to be sought on February 4. This was not only a waste of the Court’s time, but a waste of everybody’s time, he said. Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., who was on the Bench during the morning, said he would see what could be done about the matter. TRAFFIC PROSECUTIONS

In traffic prosecutions brought by the police, convictions were entered and fines imposed, as below.

Detective-Sergeant A. E. Yaxley led prosecutions.

Careless driving: Derek John Scott Brittenden, £B, and disqualified for two months; Audrey Helen Forsyth, £10; William John Jacobs, £7 10s; Terence Alfred Mardon, £7 10s, and disqualified for three months; Thomas Patrick Moynihan, £10; Ronald Ernest Myer, £8; Basil John O’Sullivan, £5. and disqualified for three months; Claire Lynette Patten, £6; William Clarence Robertson, £l5; Rhys Henry Taylor, £7 10s; John Reginald Turipa, £B, and disqualified for two months; John Reginald Valentine White, £lO and disqualified for six months (no driver’s licence, £5); Raymond Douglas Gray, £lO. Failing to give way: Millar Anderson, £8; Rose Coveney, £8; Keith Stewart Cox, £10; Patrick Thomas Holland, £10; Alfred Walter Hopkins, £3, and disqualified for three months as from June 30; Thomas James Jameson, £B. and disqualified for two months; Brian George Kinloch, £3 10s; Leslie Derence Long, £10; John CacLachlan, £10; Anthony Richard Milne, £7; Allan Cecil Norrell, £10; Edward Banfield Pyne, £lO, and disqualified for* two months; Norman David Russell, £l5; Harold Martin Todd, £7. Failing to stop after an accident: Allan Anzac Gough, £l5 (careless use, £5; failing to ascertain injury, cost only); James Taylor Skedden, £2O (failing to ascertain injury, costs only). No driver’s licence: Roland David Gerrard Cels, £5: Gordon William Theodore Te Au, £5 (no warrant of fitness, £1).

Failing to stop at sign: Veronica Catherine Spackman, £3; Edward William Stringer, £7. Employing a driver without

a licence: Ricky George Peteras, £3. Exceeded 30 miles an hour: Ronald David Terris, £B. CHARGE DISMISSED A charge against Kevin George Mason, aged 18, a workman, of careless driving in Cathedral square on September 19, was dismissed. Mason, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by Mr C. B. Atkinson. ASSAULT For an assault oh Ms daughter, who is soon to give birth to a child, Walter Thomas Rang!, aged 39, a carpenter, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined £2O. Rangii was said to have struck his daughter during a family dispute. Mr M. J. Glue, for Rang!, said his offence was completely out of character—and the first blot on a clean record. Rangi had been drinking heavily, so much so that he had no recollection of the assault at ali. He was extremely sorry for what he had done. ARRESTED FOR TRESPASS

A man who called at Ms mother-in-law’s house on January 27 to see his wife and children was arrested and charged with willful trespass. He is Trevor James Meldrume Humphries, aged 36, a bus driver (Mr M. J. Glue), who, after pleading guilty, was convicted and ordered to pay costs only. Detective-Sergeant Yaxley said Humphries called at 44 McClean street, Ms mother-in-law’s place, to see Ms wife from whom he was separated. He was partly under the influence of drink and refused to leave. He tried to force Ms way in while a constable was there. Mr Glue said Humphries felt he had a right to see his wife and children. He and Ms wife were estranged a week ago and his wife's mother took a rather prominent part in the affair. She and Humphries did not get on well together. It was primarily a domestic matter. (Before Mr H. Rosen. S.M.) RESISTED CONSTABLE

William Hodge, aged 42, a builder, pleaded not guilty to charges of resisting Constable A. De Court in the execution of Ms duty on January 22 and wilful trespass at 140 Main North rOad on the same date. Hodge, who conducted Ms own defence, was convicted on both charges. On the charge of resisting a police constable, he was fined £7 10s, and on the charge of willful trespass he was fined £5. DISQUALIFIED

Stephen Hltk, aged 47, a weaver (Mt E. O. Sullivan), pleaded not guilty to a charge of careless driving in Colombo street on October 8, 1965. He was convicted, fined £7 10s, and Ms licence cancelled for two weeks.

(Before Mr J. D. Kinder, S.M.) FAILED TO GIVE WAY

Una Viiodet Bradding (Mr R. L. Kerr) pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to give way whale turning at the intersection of Cambridge terrace and Fitzgerald avenue on November 1, 1965. She was convicted and fined £lO. DAMAGED CAR

John Leonard Aldridge, aged 18, a draughtsman (Mr H. J. B. Quigley), pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to report damage to another car on September 25, 1965. The Magistrate, saying it was not a bad case of its kind, convicted Aldridge and fined Mm £lO.