MAGISSTRATE'S COURT Man committed for trial on robbery charge

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33003, 24 August 1972, Page 5

MAGISSTRATE'S COURT Man committed for trial on robbery charge

A man alleged to have at-' tacked two young men, taken: a watch, and left them unconscious was committed to the Supreme Court for trial yesterday after the taking of depositions in the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of robbery. William Henry Ritter,! aged 30, an unemployed tussock worker (Miss K. A.! Heaysman), pleaded not guilty before Messrs R. H.i Harris and H. A. R. Tullett,. Justices of the Peace, Sergeant A. N. Waugh said! that the complainant, James! Francis Lawler, and a friend, Leslie Grant, were walking from the Gladstone Hotel towards Cathedral Square when a car stopped and the defendant with two other men attacked them. The complainant and his friend were left unconscious and a watch valued at $lB was taken. In evidence Mr Grant said that the defendant looked like one of the two men who attacked Mr Lawler and then attacked him. Leslie James Lewis and Rima Parau. inmates of

Paparua Prison, said that ! during the whole incident • Ritter stayed in the car. They had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for their part in the assault on Mr Grant. "We were abused by them, i so we hit the fellows,” Lewis ! said. ESCAPER SENTENCED Anthony Arnold Hawkins, aged 21 (Mr L. G. Holder), was sentenced to imprisonment for six I months when he appeared for sentence on a charge of escaping from custody on July 13. The I sentence is to be served at the ' end of a current period of imI prisonment. Hawkins escaped from a train near Christchurch while he was being escorted from Dunedin. Mr Holder said that Hawkins had formed an association with a girl in Dunedin and this might be what he needed to get him out of the terrible mess he was in. Hawkins had been at liberty for only 22 months in the last seven years. The Magistrate said it was clear that Hawkins had had a very deprived life and it was natural to feel some sympathy for him. Because of the prevalence of the offence, however, it was necessary to impose a deterrent sentence. BURGLARY On a charge of burgling the Century Supermarket, Edgeware Road, on August 7, Trevor George Brokenshire, aged 27, unemployed, was convicted and remanded in custody to August 30 for sentence. Brokenshire (Mr E. T. Turbottl, pleaded guilty. Sergeant P. Kavanagh said that the supermarket was surrounded by t>e police at 3 a.m. on August 7. The building was searched and Brokenshire and another man were found inside. Brokenshire told the police they intended to carry off the safe, which they believed contained about $5OOO. Two other persons found in a car parked nearby were also arrested and had already appeared before the Court. FALSE PRETENCES

Graham Lester Smith, aged 23, a factory worker (Mr J. L. Woodward), pleaded guilty to six charges of obtaining money and goods worth $349.20 by false pretences. He was convicted and remanded on ball to September 11 for sentence. Sergeant Kavanagh said that complaints were received by the police about the cashing by a girl of cheques from a stolen cheque-book. She was interviewed and found to be living with Smith. Smith told the police he found the cheque forms in a hotel toilet. He filled them in and gave them to the girl. He told her she could cash them if she wanted to. The money and goods were obtained with the cheques between July 24 and July 26 from Hanafins Chemist, Jans Drapery, Tuptims Boutique, Linen Shop, Hagley Sports Centre, Ltd, and Nicolas Jewellers. Ltd. RECEIVING Jocelyn Bonnington, aged 20, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving a television set, two guitars, two air rifles, two air pistols, a .22-calibre rifle and a golf club, of a total value of $219.26, about August 21, knowing they had been dishonestly obtained. She was convicted and remanded on bail to August 30 for sentence. Sergeant Kavanagh said that the Bishopdale premises of Hutchinson, White, Ltd, were burgled on Augu& 21 and goods worth $BlB taken. The defendant was interviewed the next day and her flat searched. The defendant said she knew about the burglary and knew the persons responsible. One of them with whom she was living brought some of the property to her flat. Some of the property had been sold the previous day. The rest of it was found in the flat. THEFT FROM SHOPS Johanna Donk. aged 17, a commercial artist, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a pair of jeans worth $5.50 from Hallenstein Bros, Ltd, on July 4, and stealing three blouses worth $24.80 from the Snob Boutique on July 2. She was convicted and remanded on bail to August 30 for sentence. FINE OF $5O Paul Robert Gosney. aged 18, a workman (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and fined $5O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Brian William Tregurtha on March 5. Sergeant Kavanagh said that Gosney was one of three youths who caused the driver of a car to stop for them in Colombo Street. Sydenham, about 2.15 a.m. Words were exchanged and Gosney threw an empty beer bottle through the open window. It struck the complainant on the forehead. Mr Lascelles said the incident was brought about by the aggressive, abusive. and unyielding attitude of the complainant.

FORGERY Stephen Ernest Bessant. aged 18, an apprentice carpenter (Mr D. J. Hewitt), was convicted and remanded to August 30 for sentence on five charges of forging a social security sickness benefit certificate purporting to be signed by a doctor. He pleaded guilty. In hospital Bessant was given a certificate of incapability for work, enabling him to draw a sickness benefit from the Social Security Department, Sergeant Kavanagh said. On his discharge from hospital he was found fit to resume work, but he told the police he forged more certificates because he needed money for rent. ASSAULT Toti Rangitonga, aged 38, a workman (Mr J. H. F. Macfarlane), pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Raymond Francis Hebbend on June 7. He was convicted and remanded on bail to August 30 for sentence.

Sergeant Kavanagh said that Rangitonga was drinking with the complainant in a hotel when they became involved in an argument over a $1 note found on the floor. Rangitonga struck the complainant on the face and knocked him unconscious. The complainant was admitted to Burwood Hospital suffering from a broken bone in his face. He was a patient for seven days. PERIODIC DETENTION Barry John Ward, aged 22, a lagger (Mr P. F. Whiteside), was sentenced to one year’s periodic detention and released on probation for one year, when he appeared for sentence on a charge of burglary of the premises of A. J. Atkinson. Ltd. on August 11. A special condition of probation is that the defendant takes out a prohibition order. TOOK CAR On a charge of unlawfully taking a car on August 14, Gregory David Martyn, aged 20, a driver, was convicted and remanded on bail to August 30 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. Martyn was ordered to undergo a medical examination to determine his fitness for periodic detention. UNLAWFULLY ON PROPERTY Frank John Van Der Veen, aged 29, an oyster opener (Mr W. D. Moultrie), was convicted and remanded to August 30 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of entering the property of his wife while subject to a non-molestation order. FINE OF $2OO Surrey Richard Earl, aged 25, a farmer, was fined $2OO when he appeared for sentence on a charge of possessing cannabis. Mr D. M. Palmer, who represented Earl, said that the quantity of cannabis found in Earl’s truck was. at a sixteenth of an ounce, minimal, and there was no suggestion that Earl intended to supply the drug to others. Several references were presented to the Magistrate, who commented: “You should know better. You have a very good record and one finds it hard to understand why you should want to play around with drugs If you were to be apprehended again for this type of offence, you would go to prison.” RECEIVING Robert Hewinson, aged 23. an unemployed butcher, was released on probation for 12 months and fined $lOO when he appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving The Magistrate said that probation was recommended by the experienced probation officer who wrote the report on Hewinson. Hewinson had pleaded guilty to receiving tools and equipment worth $7OO. <c The incredible thing is that after the police had recovered this property you went to the Solice station to claim it,” the [agistrate said. (Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL Edward Derek Paintin, aged 24, a foreman (Mr P. Graham), was fined $250 and disqualified from driving for 18 months on charges of driving with an excessive alcohol level (260 mg. and at a speed which might have been dangerous. Paintin pleaded guilty. Others convicted of driving with an excessive alcohol level were: Larry Gordon Matterson (283 mg ). fined $250 and disqualified for 18 months; Cyril Benjamin Goslin (163 mg. $lOO and disqualified for nine months; Brent Evan Lockton (164 mg. $lOO and disqualified for nine months. (Before Messrs E. L. Tinker and E. J. Bradshaw. Justices of the Peace.) COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Neil Edward Clarke, aged 22, a welder (Mr W. S. Smith), was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on two charges of burglary on July 31. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded on bail until the trial. Sergeant C. T. Dalzell said that Clarke drove a vehicle used in the burglary of Sunveil Products, Ltd Kumore and the Phoenix Beauty Salon, Main North Road. Ten witnesses were called.