ATTACK IN FERRY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 10

ATTACK IN FERRY

Man Admits Assault

While the Maori was at sea between Wellington and Lyttelton on Thursday night, a man pushed his way into a girl’s cabin, put his hand over her mouth, carried her a short distance, and then threw her to the floor when she screamed for help, Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M., was told in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Barry John Nicholls, aged 22, an unemployed workman, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault, was remanded in custody to March 3 for sentence. Mr M. J. Glue appeared for the accused.

Detective-Sergeant A. B. Dalzell said that about 11 p.m. on February 23 Nicholls was a passenger on the Maori. Two girls, who had been watching television, went to their cabin. One girl left the cabin for a few minutes, and while she was gone Nicholls pushed his way in. He lifted the girl up and carried her to the back of the cabin. He threw her on the floor and she suffered scratches and bruised her shoulder when she hit the side of a bunk. Nicholls had a hand over the girl’s mouth and throat.

When the girt screamed for help Nicholls left the cabin just before a steward arrived. The girl was very distressed. Nicholls told the police that he was fairly drunk at the time and had gone into the cabin to kiss the girl. He did not know either of the girls, Detective-Sergeant Dalzell said.