SUPREME COURT Burglary Of Jewellery Shop Denied

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32012, 12 June 1969, Page 7

SUPREME COURT Burglary Of Jewellery Shop Denied

Evidence in the trial of Brian Carrington, aged 28, a workman, on a charge of breaking and entering the jeweller’s shop of S. C. Suckling in Ferry Road on or about July 25, 1968, with intent to commit a crime, was given before Mr Justice Wilson and a jury in the Supreme Court yesterday. The accused pleaded not guilty The trial will continue today with addresses by counsel and his Honour's summing up for the jury. Mr N. W. Williamson appeared for the Crown and Mr J. E. Butler for the accused. Stuart Courtney Suckling, a jeweller gave evidence of finding a window broken at the back of his shop at 3A Ferry Road on the morning of July 26. Bars over the window had been removed. He said 26 watches and two clocks of a total value of $866.50 had been removed from a display window in front of the shop. He identified, by its serial number, a watch produced as an exhi bit as one of those stolen from his shop. Lance Murdoch, a pensioner, said he had known the accused for a long time About the middle of 1968 the accused and another person came to his place in Hereford Street Watches On Table The witness said that while they were there he noticed two or three watches on the table between them. There was one watch left on the table when they left. Two or three days later he put the watch on his wrist and it remained there until the detectives took it.

Questioned by Mr Williamson on a statement made to the police on August 8, the witness said he did not remember saying that the accused threw a dozen or more watches on the table and that the one left there was left by the accused. Florence May Henderson, a married woman, said the accused came to her place in St "Asaph Street in July. 1968. After hearing a radio news item on the burglary of Suckling’s shop the defendant told the witness that he and a mate had “done that job.” He said there would be another shop “going off” soon Cross-examined by Mr Butler the witness said the accused could have said, “A mate of mine did that iob.”

Detective-Sergeant B. J Preston said he talked with the accused in a number of hotels on Aug. 7. When he asked him where all the watches were the accused said, “You haven’t a show in hell of finding them. The stuff from Ferry Road and Selwvn Street has gone, and the Sydenham jobs are still in town.”

The accused said Harry Martin and Keenan had done these jobs. “Offer” To Accused

The witness said the accused later told him in the street, “I may as well tell you, I did the jobs but you can’t prove it anyhow.” The accused agreed he had been in on the Ferry Road job. The accused said he was not worried about anyone putting his “pot on” because he had the town “sewn up.” Cross-examined by Mr Butler the witness agreed he had offered the accused $5OO if he

would tell him where the watches were.

“1 would not have given him $5OO. Carrington would realise I was kidding.” Giving evidence in his own defence, the accused said that on July 25 he went to the home of Mrs Woodstock with his de facto wife, Mrs Constable. He then went to the New Zealander Hotel where he remained until 10.15 p.m. The accused said he then walked into the Square where he took a taxi to Mrs Woodstock’s home. He remained there until after mid-day the next day. When he heard the news item at Mrs Henderson’s place about the Ferry Road burglary he thought Martin and Keenan had done it. He said he knew Detective Sergeant Preston was not serious about his offer for information about the watches.

“I knew he wouldn’t give me $5OO He was leading me on and I thought I would lead him on about taking them." Corroborative evidence on Carrington’s movements on the afternoon and night of July 25 was given by Ann Rose Woodstock and Mary Maria Constable.