SUPREME COURT Two accused deny charge of robbery

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33044, 11 October 1972, Page 17

SUPREME COURT Two accused deny charge of robbery

The trial of Bunnay Friday Harrison, aged 30, and John David Shaw, aged 25, both unemployed, on three alternative charges began in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon before Mr Justice White and a jury.

Harrison and Shaw have pleaded not guilty to alternative charges of robbing Geoffrey Douglas Whittington of about $13.50, assaulting Mr Whittington with intent to injure, and stealing about $13.50 from Mr Whittington.

Mr G. K. Panckhurst appears for the Crown, Mr P. N. Duncan for Harrison, and Mr K. N. Hampton for Shaw.

Dr Kelvin Lewis Lynn said that Mr Whittington was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital about 4 a.m. on August 26 suffering from lacerations to the forehead, lacerations to the left eye and left side of the face, and bruising about the left kidney. Mr Whittington, aged 35, said that in August he was employed by the Nassella Tussock Board at Cheviot. On August 25 he came to Christchurch and after looking at the shops had a few beers. Before catching the bus to his home in Christchurch he went into Tattersails Hotel, where he was drinking with two couples. When the couples left he met the two accused at the bar. He drank with them for a couple of hours and about 7 p.m. they went to the Sandridge Hotel, where they remained until closing time. He was “pretty pickled.” The two accused suggested that he should go back to their place, and he bought half a dozen bottles of beer. They got a taxi outside the hotel and after a 10-minute drive it stopped. Someone offered to carry his beer for him, the witness said. They walked along a track on a section. The girls with them went on ahead

and the witness was walking between the two accused. Shaw turned around, shouted out, “Right” and rushed at him. The witness went down and all he could remember was being kicked and knocked about. He did not see how many persons attacked him because he was too busy fending off boots from ftis head. When he came to, he saw a light in a house. He started to crawl towards it and his next recollection was of being on the doorstep. He was taken to hospital, where he spent three days. When his clothing was returned to him his money was missing. While in hospital, the witness said, he was shown photographs of himself, the two accused, and their girlfriends which were taken at the Sandridge Hotel. To Mr Duncan the witness said that he had about $2O when he arrived in Christchurch. The trial will continue today.