MAGISTRATE’S COURT Part of assault fine to go to policeman

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Part of assault fine to go to policeman

One-quarter of a §4O fine for assault imposed upon a 17-year-old youth would be paid to the police sergeant who had been assaulted, Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., decided in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

“I think it is about time that people realised that police officers are not to be assaulted," the Magistrate told Ronald Edward Webber, a storeman, when he con-

Evicted him on a charge of assaulting Terence Noel French, a policeman, in the i execution of his duty. He l pleaded not guilty. 1 The Magistrate ordered that $lO of the fine be paid jto Sergeant French. i In evidence Sergeant ; French said that he had been : called to help two ambulance officers with whom Webber had been struggling. Webber had been overcome with drink, and after arriving at Christchurch Hospital had hit him in the mouth with some force and had later threatened a doctor. Counsel, Mr B. A. Hunt, said that Webber had been drinking in hotels solidly between 1.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the day of the offence. “It is well known in law that drunkenness is not permitted to be a cloak for an offence,” said the Magistrate. (Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) UNLAWFULLY IN BUILDING “Cleaning windows” was the explanation given to police by a man who was found in the new Nurses Home at 8.20 a.m. one morning on the third floor. Peter James Taylor, aged 29, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found without lawful excuse in the new Nurses Home. Christchurch, on October 26. Sergeant I. R. Harlick told the Court the police were called to the home after an employee had discovered Taylor in the home.

Taylor had two cleaning rags In his hand when apprehended. He told the police he had once worked as a window cleaner in the home.

For Taylor. Mr P. G. Benseman said he had been looking for a job on the day of the offence and had gone to the Nurses Home after failing to obtain one.

I "You’d better find a job,” the | Magistrate said, convicting and 1 fining Taylor *2O. BURGLARY Appearing for sentence on a charge of burglary, Stuart Russell (Mr M. J. Glue), aged 33, unemployed, was fined $5O and placed on probation for 18 months. THEFT OF MONEY Brian Arthur Smithers, aged 18, a factory worker, was fined *lOO when he appeared for sentence on two charges of theft. The charges related to the taking of $11.30 from the handbag of the complainant THEFT ALLEGED Henry Matthew Huntly was remanded on ball to November 9 when he appeared charged with the theft of 35 diamond rings worth $4407.20 from W. Ruddiman, Ltd. in Christchurch on September 14. No plea was entered. FALSE PRETENCES Desmond Leon Fitzgerald, aged 42. unemployed (Mr J. E. Butler), pleaded guilty to five charges involving false pretences. Fitzgerald was remanded in custody to November 9 for sentence. The charges involved property and money to the value of $211.97. Sergeant Harlick told the Magistrate that the defendant had tendered worthless cheques he had obtained from a man in a city hotel. Fitzgerald had obtained a watch valued at $18.75 from a watchmaker’s shop in the city. Fitzgerald told the shop assistant he was the son of a local hotelkeeper, Sergeant Harlick said. The defendant left the shop with the watch on the understanding that he would be back in a few minutes as soon as he had shown it to his daughter. After several hours the defendant had not returned and the police were called. $4O FINE Murray Michael Haines, aged 20, unemployed (Mr R. B. Leete). was admitted to probation for 12 months and fined $4O when he appeared for sentence on a charge of assault.