Policeman and helpers praised for the arrest of burglars

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33083, 25 November 1972, Page 2

Policeman and helpers praised for the arrest of burglars

(N.Z. Press Association) WANGANUI, Nov. 24. Tributes to the courage and fearless devotion to duty of a Marton policeman and the assistance of four residents during the arrest of three burglars in September were voiced by the Crown and the Judge (Mr Justice Haslam) in the Supreme Court today. His Honour was hearing appeals by two of the convic-

ted men against sentences of two years’ imprisonment imposed on them in the Magistrate’s Court on charges of aggravated assault on Constable Murray Aitcheson. The appellants were Karaitiana Michel Edgar Roori, aged 20, a commercial artist, of Marton, and Bunny Te Kirihine Te Mounga Rawiri, aged 20, unemployed of Taihape. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr J. G. Rowan, submitted that there was no merit in the appeals. The circumstances of the offences were such that they could be met only by a substantial term of imprisonment, he said.

“If your Honour is minded to review the sentences, you might equally be minded to increase them as reduce them,” Mr Rowan said. Mr Rowan said he wished also to pay public tribute to the determination and courage of Constable Aitcheson and the brave help of a security officer, Mr J. A. Robinson, and the assistance of Messrs T. J. Tasker, of the Railway Hotel, B. R. McGinty and J. C. Timmins — all of Marton — in the incident. Messrs Aitcheson and Robinson entered a building at Mr Tasker’s call and the constable was faced with one man carrying scissors and a spanner. “He went straight to him, handcuffed him, and took him outside,” said Mr Rowan. “Returning to the building, he climbed a balcony to the two appellants and was attacked by them. “During a fierce struggle, he was upended over the balcony but held on, upsidedown, to prevent his fall to the floor 12ft below. “At this point,” said Mr Rowan, “Mr Robinson courageously went to his help. By superhuman effort, he climbed the balcony, held on to the constable by his tunic, put a headlock on one appellant, and kicked out at the other to ward him off. “He and the constable were then able to arrest one

I man and, when the other i took flight, he was chased i for 100 yards by Messrs Mc- ! Ginty and Timmins who were stationed outside, tackI led, and brought back to cusi tody. “I submit that the conduct i of Constable Aitcheson was of the highest tradition, and I would pay tribute to him, ’ Mr Robinson, and the others, i without whose help serious ' harm would have come to the • constable.” His Honour, replying, said the appeal was an impudent one brought by men with bad ■ records. Their appeals were against 1 the two-year gaol sentences ' for aggravated assault, imposed concurrently with 18month sentences imposed on ; a number of burglaries. ’“ln my opinion, their con- ; duct in this episode merits additional substantial punishment,” he said. "It was only because of the presence of mind and . courageous devotion to duty , of the constable, supported by the security officer, that • grave results did not follow . from the assaults, and I ■ quite agree that the actions ■ of Mr Robinson and the oth- ! ers is most commendable. He increased the sen- ■ fences by making the twoi year terms cumulative to, rather than concurrent with, ! the 18-month terms imposed i on the burglaries.