MAGISTRATE’S COURT Nine months gaol for false pretences

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 13

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Nine months gaol for false pretences

A term of nine months imprisonment was imposed on Gerald Donald Urquhart, aged 42, a foundry worker, when he appeared for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on two charges of obtaining goods and money by false preAt a previous hearing, when Urquhart pleaded guilty to both charges, Senior-Sergeant F. G. Mulcare said Urquhart cashed two valueless cheques and obtained a blouse, a watch, and $52.30. The Magistrate, Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., said it is not yet two months since the defendant appeared in Court on five similar charges. "I have no doubt that the sentence must be imprisonment. You had the chance to prove yourself at the periodic detention centre,” the Magistrate told Urquhart. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE Geoffrey Morris Strong, aged 19. a soldier IMr G. S. Brockett, »u remanded in Army custody to November 15 for the taking of depositions on a charge of Strong is charged that on October 28 he discharged a .22 firearm which killed Gary Heath, a 19-year-oid soldier, and thereby committed manslaughter. The charge relates to an incident in which Heath was shot at Burnham Military Camp. He suffered a serious head wound and died on November 5. A charge of injuring Heath under circumstances that if death had been caused he (Strong) would have been guilty of manslaughter, was withdrawn. NARCOTICS CHARGE Peter Gould Joensen, aged 21, an unemployed boxmaker (Mr J. E. Butler), was convicted and remanded in custody to November 14 for a probation officer’s report and sentence on charges of possessing a narcotic. Lysergide, and escaping from lawful custody. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant R. S. Morgan said that the defendant left a tobacco packet containing 85 tablets of Lysergide in a women’s room at the University of Waikato on April 17.

The police hid in a wardrobe I in the room on April 18 and' caught the defendant when he I removed two silver balls con- i raining Lysergide from the] packet. When the defendant was inter-1 viewed he was extremely agitated and he refused to hand ■ over the items in his pocket, Sergeant Morgan said. The defendant jumped out of a window) and ran away. SLAUGHTER OF FIVE Murray Noel Walker, aged 18, an apprentice cabinetmaker (Mr A. J. Forbes) was again remanded on ball to November 13 for sentence when he appeared on charges of stealing a ewe at Leithfield on October 28, and slaughtering it in a manner which caused it unnecessary pain and suffering. Walker was disqualified from; driving for one year and ordered : to undergo a medical examina-i tion to determine his fitness for: periodic detention. Mr Forbes said that the knife used by Walker to kill the sheep had been sharpened the day be-| fore He cut the sheep’s throat first and it was dead or almost dead, when he decapitated it. Barrv Ravmond Hayes, aged 25, a machine operator (Mr M. J. Glue), was again remanded on bail to November 13 for sentence when he appeared on charges of stealing the ewe and depositing animal remains on the front steps of the New Brighton Police Station on October 29. He had previously pleaded guilty and been conHaj.es was ordered to undergo a medical examination to determine his fitness for periodic deMr Glue said the incident was a most unusual affair. "It was a grotesque drunken prank in which Hayes did not play a very He said there was nothing to suggest that Hayes was the leader He was grossly affected THEFT OF EWE Murray John Pine, aged 17. a Printer (Mr L. G. Holder, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a ewe worth 57.85 at Leithfield on October 28. He was convicted and remanded on bail to November 14 for Sergeant Morgan said Pine and four other persons who had already appeared before the Court went to a farm at Leithfield about 7 45 p.m. and caught a ewe They put it in the boot of their car and later slaughtered it for a barbecue. LITTER OFFENCE George William Davis, aged 19, an unemployed farm hand, pleaded guilty to a charge of depositing animal remains outaide the New Brighton Police

Station on October 29. He was convicted and remanded on bail to November 14 for sentence.

Sergeant Morgan said Davis was a passenger in a car in which offal from a slaughtered ewe was being carried in a plastic bag. When it was suggested that the offal be dumped at the police station, Davis placed the ewe’s head beside the letter box. KNIFE OFFENCES Christopher Haydon Turton, aged 20, a workman (Mr J. E. Butler), was remanded on ball to November 13 for a medical examination to ascertain his fitness for periodic detention centre training on two charges of assault. At a previous hearing, Turton admitted assaulting Owen Hale Hobson and Lindsay Percy Brooks. Detective Sergeant Ward said Turton swung a knife at one complainant and threatened the other with it after being refused entry to a party. Mr Butler said the knife was not used as a knife. Neither complainant was injured. The sole motivating factor for the offences was liquor consumed by the defendant. ASSAULT CHARGES George Grant Mackay, aged 43, a ship's master, was convicted and remanded on bail to November 14 for a probation officer’s report and sentence when he pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and charges of wilfully damaging a watch and refusing to give a blood specimen. The defendant was arrested after he refused to accompany Traffic Officer Arthur William : Pillans to the police station to give a blood sample, Sergeant [ Morgan said.

When he was escorted to the patrol car he punched Traffic Officer Neville Beecroft in the face.

During a struggle with the defendant, both traffic officers fell and suffered lacerations. Traffic Officer Pillans’s watch was damaged to the value of $lO. At the police station the defendant refused to supply a blood specimen. PROBATION

Peter Shane Gibson, aged 20, a sickness beneficiary (Mr R. F. B. Perry), was put on probation for 12 months when he appeared for sentence on charges of forging a doctor’s prescription for a prescription poison and using it as if it were genuine. He previously pleaded guilty. Mr Perry said that the defendant had been prescribed the drug, which was non-addictive, for the relief of depression, but he had used the prescription more quickly than he ought to have done. The Magistrate said that conditions of probation were that the defendant take psychiatric or medical treatment considered necessary by the probation offiCer FOUND IN SHIP Twelve young women and girls found in the m.v. Taupo at Lyttelton on November 3 were charged with being idle and disorderly In tjiat they had insufficient lawful means of support. Christine Tuau Taituha, aged 20, an unemployed factory worker. Marianne Irene Tighe, aged 26, an unemployed factory worker, Pauline Therese Loader, aged 34, an unemployed housemaid, Horiana Korea Morris, aged 18, an unemployed kitchen hand, Sally Rona Huriwai, aged 22, an unemployed shed hand, Joanne Theresa Walker, aged 22, an unemployed market garden hand, Devinla Judith Faye Manunui. aged 25, an unemployed I waitress, and Margaret Iritana i Hovell Haulti, aged 23, an unemployed waitress, pleaded ) guilty to the charge and were remanded in custody to November 8 for consideration of conviction and penalty. The defendants sought legal aid. I Georgina Matthews, aged 18. an unemploved machinist, and Miriam Carol Berryman, aged 26. : an unemployed waitress, pleaded I guilty and were convicted and • remanded in custody to Novem- ; her 14 for sentence. Sergeant Morgan said that the defendants were found in a ' cabin on the m.v. Taupo at 10 I a m. on November 3. They were , unkempt, out of work, and had i little money. Their personal belongings were on board. Tuihana Doris Pula, aged 26, an unemploved kitchen hand, and Sarah Lavihla Larkins, aged 25, a housewife, pleaded not guilty, ! and were remanded In custody , to November 8 for a fixture. ASSAULT i Huhi Pire Bill Rauhini. aged '2O an apprentice paperhanger, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting John Duncan Colqhoun lon October 28. He was convicted land fined $BO. The Magistrate ordered that 'half the amount of the fine be jpaid to the complainant. Sergeant Morgan said that the complainant, a taxi driver, refused to carry the defendant ana his companion in his taxi at 3.40 a m. on October 28 because of their behaviour. The defendant struck him on the temple and broke his glasses. Mr Colqhoun suffered cuts to the face from the broken lenses. The defendant told the police he had been drinking all day and could not remember the incident. FINED $lOO On a charge of depositing 'dangerous glass in Cashel Street

on November 3, Ross Alexander Dunbar, aged 19, a storeman, was convicted and fined $lOO. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Morgan said that Dunbar was seen to pick up four milk bottles from a doorway in Cashel Street and smash them on the road about 10 p.m. He broke a fifth bottle on the roadway soon after. DANGEROUS LITTER Peter Matahaere Grey, aged 28, a railways traffic assistant, pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving dangerous litter in Oxford Street, Lyttelton, on November 3. He was convicted and fined $3O. Sergeant Morgan said that Grey dropped a parcel containing bottles of beer as he was getting into a taxi at 10.30 p.m. He picked up three unbroken bottles and left three broken bottles on the roadway. DAMAGED TELEPHONE Morris Albert Clarke, aged 26. a lino presser, was convicted and fined $l5 and ordered to pay restitution of $3 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully damaging a telephone, the property of the New Zealand Post Office. Sergeant Morgan said the defendant pulled the telephone from the wall during an argument with his wife. DRIVING OFFENCES Peter James McFetrish, aged 17, unemployed (Mr J. M. Wilson), was sentenced to periodic detention for seven months and disqualified from driving for one

year when he appeared on charges of unlawfully taking a car and driving while disqualified on October 21. He had previously been convicted on the charges. ALCOHOL CHARGE On a charge of refusing to supply a blood specimen at Amberley on October 29, Clive Ross Hartley, an agricultural spraying contractor, was convicted and fined $lOO and disqualified from driving for one year from November 20, He pleaded guilty. TOOK CARS Alan William McLeod, aged 17, an unemployed workman, pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawfully taking a car on October 29. He was convicted and remanded in custody to November 14 for sentence. (Before Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M.) CHARGES DISMISSED Four charges of receiving stolen property to the total value of $331.20 against Francis John Van der Veen, aged 29, unemployed (Mr D. H. P. Dawson), were dismissed after a defended hearing. Van der Veen had been charged with receiving eight gallons of paint, two outboard motors, three television sets, a motor mower and floor rugs owned by four city firms. Detective-Sergeant C. T. Dalzell said that two persons had been charged with stealing the property and dealt with by the Court.