Man Had Petrol, Matches

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 40

Man Had Petrol, Matches

(N Z Press Association)

WELLINGTON,

June 12.

A 37-year-old teacher, who ran on to a park pouring petrol over himself and apparently fumbled in his pocket for matches, was today fined $5O in the Magistrate’s Court by Mr R. D. Jamieson, S.M., for disorderly behaviour.

Bernard Wilson Grice pleaded guilty to behaving in a disorderly manner in a

public place, Macalister Park, on May 23. Sergeant R. P. J. Neal said that at about 3.50 p.m. on May 23, during the All Black Rugby trials, the accused had walked on to a park carrying a can of petrol. When police attempted to approach him, he began running away, holding the can over his head and pouring petrol over his body as he ran. He then made an attempt to reach for his pocket but was apprehended by police. The defendant continued to struggle, apparently attempting to get into his pocket, and force was necessary to restrain him. A search of Grice had revealed a box of matches in his pocket. “He became abusive towards the police, cursing them for having stopped him, but he later became passive and allowed himself to be taken away for treatment,” Sergeant Neal said. Counsel for Grice, Mr N. R Taylor, said that, this was not the case of a person bent on committing suicide.

The Magistrate said he understood that the accused had made sure that the police knew about the incident before it happened. He also understood that Grice had made sure that he did not get to the box of matches.

Mr Taylor said Grice was an actor of some ability. The act was not designed as a demonstration, but was to distract the police while a

large demonstration took place on Athletic Park. Mr Taylor said that to some extent Grice had been successful in his aim.

The Magistrate told Grice that something could have gone wrong.

Mr Taylor: “Something did go wrong, sir. The can was supposed to contain water. It in fact, contained petrol.”