Six mob members accused of arson

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 16

Six mob members accused of arson

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, March 23. A group of youths called the Mongrel Mob in Palmerston North had filled wine bottles with petrol and set out to blow up the homes of members of a local motor-cycle gang, it was alleged in the Children’s Court at Palmerston North today.

A 21-year-old Lower Hutt[ man was alleged to have told? the police he drove the Mon-[ grel Mob members to three houses at which they had thrown petrol bombs. Constable B. C. Gilmore said that one of the defendants had told him this story when he interviewed him

[early in the morning of March. 111 after a house was attacked! • with fire bombs. Six young men. one aged 16, were committed in custody for trial on a joint [ charge of arson and two! charges of attempted arson.’ All pleaded not guilty and: elected trial by jury. Because of the 16-year-old.[ and to avoid duplication of. depositions, all six were ordered to appear in the Child- ? ren’s Court, before Messrs J.: G. Hogan and E. Blechvnden’ J.P.s. Three witnesses gave evid-i ence of being awakened at! their homes early on March 11 after incendiary objects were thrown at them. Constable Gilmore said, that at 1.40 a.m. he went to a house in Lyndhurst Street which had been damaged bv fire In the bedroom he found a bottle half-filled with petrol and a piece of petrol-soaked rag. He then went to Rangitikei Street where he found a car with the six accused standing nearby. In the car was a piece of petrol-soaked rag which appeared identical with the? one found in Lyndhurst? Street.