Policeman Punched Spectator Witnesses

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31159, 8 September 1966, Page 1

Policeman Punched Spectator Witnesses

(New Zealand Press Association* AUCKLAND, September 7. A policeman punched a man about his head after an incident at Eden Park during the Maori-Lions Rugby match, witnesses said in the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland, today during the rehearing of a charge of drunkenness.

Leslie Mervin Bristowe, aged 21, a mechanic, who had been convicted and fined £1 on a charge of being drunk in Eden Park, when his case was heard before Mr L. G. H. Sinclair, S.M., on August 15, had the information dismissed today.

A constable, James Richardson, said today that about five minutes before the conclusion of the match a player, Myers, scored a try and a number of spectators converged on the plaving area. Three or four young men went up to Myers and grabbed him round his neck and hugged him.

One was the defendant whom the witness pulled away.

Richardson said that during the melee he had lost his helmet, and when he went to pick it up Bristowe kicked it away. He then went over to the helmet, still holding Bristowe, and got him to pick it up.

He said Bristowe was creating a nuisance and inconvenience and was also a danger to himself.

Richardson said Bristowe’s breath smelt very strongly of liquor and, in his opinion, he was drunk.

“Wrong Man”

Questioned by Mr P. B. Temm, counsel for the defence, Richardson denied punching Bristowe. He said it was ridiculous to say that he had struck him with several heavy blows, and that he did not let him go at any time and did not force him to pick up the helmet. An inspector, Kenneth Owen Thompson, said he was in charge of the police party at the game. He saw Richardson escorting Bristowe through the ground.

Bristowe’s breath smelled of liquor, his eyes were bloodshot, his clothing disarranged, his speech was slurred, and he was unsteady on his feet, said the witness.

A number of people who spoke to him from the other side of a high wire fence said Richardson had arrested the wrong man, but they did not make a complaint that unnecessary violence had been

used to arrest Bristowe, said the witness.

Edmund Walter Thomas, a barrister and solicitor, said that when he first saw Bristowe he was standing looking up the field with his hands in the pockets of his wind-breaker.

Someone knocked the helmet off Richardson’s head, and it rolled towards Bristowe, who brushed or tapped it aside with the side of his foot, said Thomas. “It struck me that it w’as an involuntary action,” said Thomas.

Thomas said Richardson, who was stretching out for the helmet when this happened, straightened up and grabbed Bristowe, who turned around. The policeman then hit him with his closed fist.

The policeman then held Bristowe with one hand at his side and marched him along, tossing him from side to side.

He suddenly thrust Bristowe down so he “folded like a jackknife,” and then hit him behind the left ear on the lower neck with the base of his palm—“a forceful and thudding blow,” said Thomas. “Nothing Bristowe did was

consistent with a drunken man,” said Thomas. “He was not drunk as 1 understand drunkenness." A teacher. John William McDonnel, said that he saw the policeman hit Bristowe with a “king hit.” Later the constable struck him again a couple of times about the head.

Peter Curry, a clerk, said that when he first saw Bristowe he was standing with his hands in his pockets looking up the field. A policeman, who was not wearing a helmet and “who looked absolutely furious" turned Bristowe round and next moment let go with "a beautiful right,” said Curry. Curry said Bristowe showed no signs of intoxication and was standing perfectly still.

Bristowe was “hanging halfgroggy" as he was taken from the ground. Curry said that if he had been drunk, he would have fallen to the ground. The Magistrate said it was not up to him to decide whether Bristowe was assaulted.

Bristowe showed signs of having consumed alcohol, and whether he was unsteady as a result of having consumed too much alcohol, or whether he was groggy because he was struck, left room for doubt. Because of this doubt the information would be dismissed.