AUCKLAND PROTEST Obstruction Charge Dismissed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32301, 20 May 1970, Page 18

AUCKLAND PROTEST Obstruction Charge Dismissed

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 19. It was important for New Zealand’s laws to be maintained by the police as well as by demonstrators, Mr P. A. Williams said in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today.

“When there is a volume of public opinion against the demonstrators there is a danger that this volume will indirectly encourage the police to use tactics against demonstrators that would not be used

against ordinary citizens,” he said.

Mr Williams said the courts must be absolutely zealous lest basic rights be whittled away by a bigoted section of the public. Mr Williams was appearing for Oliver Neil Strewe, aged 19, casual waterside worker, who denied a charge of wilfully obstructing Douglas Andrew Patrick Geraghty, a constable, in the execution of his duty. The charge was dismissed by Mr W. J. Meade, S.M. Constable H. J. Watt told the Court that a big crowd; was standing round the gate! at the back entrance to the, A.M.P. building where a

group of demonstrators had been protesting about the American involvement in Cambodia. Constable Geraghty went to try to stop a man who was padlocking the gates together. Strewe grabbed the constable’s hands and pulled them away, allowing the person to padlock the chain together. The person who locked the gates was held against the bars while several policemen tried to climb over the gate to arrest him. The witness said Strewe was seen to pull Constable Geraghty’s hand away and the person escaped into the crowd. OBSTRUCTION Other constables grabbed at Strewe. Constable Watt said he climbed the gate and arrested Strewe for obstruction. Cross-examined by Williams Constable Watt said the constables were holding Strewe through the gate by the sleeves. Strewe appeared to be just standing there. Constable Watt said he did not see Strewe being seized by the hair and lifted off his feet by

I a constable standing on the s gate. i Constable Watt denied that when he jumped over the i fence Strewe was pointing and ; making accusations against . the police. ; Mr Williams’ submitted that if the -Court held that the ■ police had deliberately suppressed some of the facts, be- . cause those facts did the . police no credit, then it would reflect adversely on the , police officers whose testi- ] mony the Court was asked to rely on. Mr Williams said both officers were unable to identify the constable who seized Strewe by his hair, or even admit they saw the incident. LACK OF MEMORY “There is a significant lack of memory by the officers in all aspects of the case which could reflect adversely against them," Mr Williams said. Strewe said he was among a group of people who went to the American Consulate at the A.M.P. building to protest at the invasion of Cambodia. When the police arrived and asked them to leave he left. ; A crowd of about 200 went Ito the back entrance of the building to watch the arrested demonstrators being I taken away. | Strewe said he had both hands on the gate pushing back against the crowd. Someone rushed in from behind and put a chain around the gate. A constable grabbed at the person through the gate. Strewe denied grabbing the constable’s arm. He said the person moved away then went back and locked the gate. “All of a sudden 1 was picked up by the hair and lifted right off the ground,” Strewe said. “I let go of everything.” Strewe said the constable let him go and he dropped to the ground and he moved back into the crowd. The crowd was pointing at the constable and chanting his number—B273. A constable came over the gate and appeared to be looking for the person who tried to lock it, Strewe said. He said the constable looked around and went over and grabbed him. When he asked why he was being arrested the constable made no answer. Later as he was being taken to the police van after the lock on the gate was broken, he asked again and was told "obstruction will do." The Magistrate said that having regard to all the evidence before him relating to the obstruction it would be unsafe to enter a conviction.