COURT DISCHARGES GAMES MANAGER

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 3

COURT DISCHARGES GAMES MANAGER

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 7. A man arrested in Christchurch, where he was a manager of the Cook Islands Commonwealth Games team, was discharged todav without conviction on charges of committing two offences in 1968.

Before Mr B. H. Blackwood, S.M., Joseph Cowan admitted charges of assault and breach of probation.

“It is obvious that you have by your own volition rehabilitated yourself,” said the Magistrate. The mere -act that the offences occurred six years ego was not sufficient to absolve Cowan from responsibility today, the Magistrate said, but he was entitled to take into account Cowan’s conduct since. DISTURBANCE Sergeant A. B. Edwards raid that Cowan had been at e Lower Queen Street amusement arcade about 12.45 a.m. on July 20, 1968. A man dragged to the ground during a disturbance was kicked by Cowan, who told his friends to hold the man still while he kicked him. Cowan, who was unemployed at the time, had since returned to the Islands. The probation officer told the Court that Cowan had

been released from prison on] December 11, 1967, after] serving two years and 10 days for robbery and escaping from lawful custody. Cowan had reported to the probation service on July 29, 1968, and was instructed to report again on August 5. He had not done so, and had not reported since. POLICE TOLD Mr B. P. Keene said he had been instructed to appear for Cowan by the Government of the Cook Islands. Cowan he said, became involved in the disturbance when he went to help a man with a disability who he said was being assaulted. Cowan denied the suggestion of kicking anyone in the face. Defendant had decided to return to the Cook Islands to start afresh, and had consulted the Chief of Police there about the charges outstanding in New Zealand. Cowan said the Chief of Police undertook to look into the matter and told him subsequently everything had been sorted out and that there was no, difficulty, said counsel. PREMIER’S LETTER Counsel produced a letter from the Premier of the Cook Islands, (Sir Albert Henry) and said that Cowan was now in a stable environment and was a reputable member of society. He asked for an order suppressing publication of the matters before the Court. Cowan’s intention, if the Court did not intervene, was to return to the Cook Islands as part of the Commonwealth Games team this week-end.

The Magistrate said he was impressed by the letter of commendation. “Because df your own ef-

forts of rehabilitation and the obvious success you have made of adult life, I am not going to penalise you further,” he told Cowan. “I don’t want it to be thought that in my taking this step, I am doing so simply because of the Commonwealth Games.” NOT SUPPRESSED For this reason, he would not suppress publication, because if he had made such an order it might have reflected on other Games teams. Cowan was discharged without conviction under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act on both charges. On the assault charge he was ordered to make immediate payment of $5O towards the cost of prosecution.

Arson suspected.— Arson is suspected in a fire that razed the Martinborough Golf Club clubhouse on Wednesday night. The building was destroyed and the loss is estimated at $40,000. —(P.A.)