Accused May Sit

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 18

Accused May Sit

"The Press’’ Special Service HAMILTON, April 25. The change In Supreme Court procedure announced by the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) by which an accused person will be permitted to sit at a table on the floor of the Court instead of in the dock, has been tried with success in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court. Mr Stewart Hardy, S.M., has followed the practice of allowing the accused to sit on a chair near counsel during a defended hearing ever since Mr Hardy began sitting in Hamilton 10 years ago. The exceptions to this are while an accused is being charged and sentenced, or when a prisoner is thought to be likely to become violent or to make an escape bid.

Head Injuries.—When his car. ran into the rear of a car parked in Memorial avenue, near Kendal avenue, about 7.20 p.m. yesterday, Mr L. Knudson, of 33 McGregor’s road, suffered head injuries. He was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital, where his condition last evening was described as satisfactory. The parked car was shifted on to the footpath about 40ft from the point of impact.