Policeman Found Guilty Of Burglary

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 23

Policeman Found Guilty Of Burglary

(New Zealand Press Association)

ROTORUA, April 22.

A constable, Owen Armer, aged 33, was yesterday found guilty of entering the Hinemoa Butchery, at Rotorua, on November 8 with intent to commit a crime.

A second charge of breaking and entering was dismissed.

Mr G. J. Donne, S.M., remanded Armer till May 2. Armer, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr G. T. O’Sullivan.

night of January 24. When he asked about the meat, accused replied: “All I can say is you’ll have to prove it.” Armer had denied taking any fireworks.

Detective Senior-Sergeant A. P. Jesson prosecuted. Donald Wilson Overton, a joinery machinist, said he had resigned from the Police Force bn January 24. On February 28 in the Magistrate’s Court at Rotorua he pleaded guilty and had been convicted on two charges of burglary. He said that on November 8 he was on duty from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Armer was on from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Between midnight and 1 a.m. he and Armer entered the Hinemoa Butchery through a rear door. Overton said accused took some steak and wrapped it. They then went back to the station, cooked the meat and ate it. On December 16, Overton said, he was on the night shift from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. and the accused was in charge of the 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. shift. Overton said that when he came on duty he went on motor patrol with Armer. Between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. they went to the back of Ray Wooliams supermarket and Armer forced a door into a storeroom. They entered and took some fireworks.

A senior-sergeant, Stanley Thomas Bennett, said he interviewed Armer on the