Sheep-Stealing Alleged

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 26

Sheep-Stealing Alleged

(N.Z: Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 30. The trial of an Awarua farmer, Michael Shane Hand, 27, on charges of stealing 71 sheep from Kaikohe saleyards on or about January 22, began in the Supreme Court at Auckland today.

Hand is charged with stealing 41 Romney-Border Leicester ewes valued at $225, the property of Michael John Howard, and 30 Romney ewes valued at $204, the property of Frederick Douglas Ludermann.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is before Mr Justice North. Mr C. M. Nicholson is appearing for the Crown, and Mr L. W. Brown, Q.C., and Mr G. F. Little for Hand.

Constable R. J. Crate said that on January 24, at the accused’s farm, he asked Hand to show him the sheep he had bought at the sale. He had been shown a flock of about 400. On mustering this flock, some sheep were identified by their former owners and the auctioneers who had sold them, as being the sheep which had been offered at the sale two days before.

Distinctive markings and the ear-marks had provided clear identification. In addition, it had been found that another earmark, the accused’s, had been placed on the right ear very recently. Mr Nicholson said that Hand, on questioning, had denied removing from the saleyards any sheep other than the 119 he had bought Hand had told the police he had collected his truck after the sale and then went to a hotel where he stayed until he had been “booted out” He had been very drunk, and had then gone to collect up his sheep.