Policeman Charged With Assault Of Spectator

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 3

Policeman Charged With Assault Of Spectator

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, November 23.

A spectator had receiv’d a “king-hit” from a constable in an alleged incident at the Lions-Maoris Rugby match in August, a witness said in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today.

James Richardson, aged 55, a police constable, appeared before Mr A. A. Coates, S.M., on a charge of assaulting Leslie Mervyn Bristowe. Inspector E. C. Welsh is prosecuting.

The witness, John McDonell, a school ’ teacher, said his attention had first been 1 drawn to the incident when he saw “a hard punch being given to a boy by a constable” j whom he identified in Court as Richardson.

A large number of people, rushed on to the field after a I try was scored near the end I of the game, and officials and I police had started to clear!

people off the field, said McDonell. He was in No. 3C stand at the western end of Eden Park about 45ft to 50ft above the ground. He was 40 yards away from the constable and the boy, in a direct line, and | had “a bird’s-eye view.” Cross-examined by Mr J. Meltzer, who appeared for Richardson, McDonell said he would call the blow “a kinghit.” w’hich he described as a very severe blow dealt with the purpose of rendering a person unconscious.

Earlier, Leslie Mervyn Rristowe, an apprentice mechanic, of Kawakawa, said he had rushed on to the field and hugged Myers, the player who scored the try. He was pulled off the player by a constable whom he now identified as Richardson. 'The constable’s helmet had fallen at my feet," he said. “I had no idea what caused it to fall off. When

I the constable let me go I (stood looking up the field. 1 i knocked his helmet sideways i with my foot, and then I was (caught and dragged around

by the constable and hit on the left of my jaw.” After the punch the eon-] stable forced him to the ground near the helmet and | said: “Pick it up.” ! When he had the helmet I about one foot off the ground it was dislodged from his hand. He was then marched off the field with one hand twisted up his back. Inspector Welsh: Was that the only blow you received? Bristowe: No, I received a blow on the back of my neck as I was being thrust down to pick up the helmet. I do not recall if there were any more blows as I was not feeling too well.

To Mr Meltzer, Bristowe said the policeman was doing his job to pull people off the player who scored the try. At the time of the blow the policeman’s helmet was off, as far as he knew. When he was taken to the police station after the game he did not make any complaint about the alleged assault. He said this was the first time something like this had happened to him and he did not know what to do. The hearing will be continued tomorrow.