MAGISTRATE’S COURT Periodic detention for “irresponsible” driving

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Periodic detention for “irresponsible” driving

The driver of a car involved in a “hit-and-run” accident on December 15 outside the Valley Inn Tavern was sentenced to nine months periodic detention and disqualified from driving for two years when lie appeared for sentence on three charges before Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., in tile Magistrate's Court yesterday. Stewart James Wilson, aged 26,' a spray painter (Mr M. J. Glue), pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to ascertain if any person was injured in an accident. He changed his plea from one of not guilty after evidence had been given by two prosecution witnesses. The Magistrate said that the defendant had shown “complete irresponsibility to fellow members of the community” in his “mismanagement" of a motor vehicle. Evidence was given during the hearing that the defendant accelerated his car through a small gap between parked cars and another car being pushed by a group of persons. He ran over the toes of one person and

([knocked another on to the front' i(of the car. [Before .Mr K. H. J. Headifen. S.M.I PERIODIC DETENTION •! Alexander Eugene Pierre Sams'son, aged 21, a workman (Mr T.' , Sissons), was sentenced to 1 periodic detention tor six months when lie appeared on two ( charges of receiving a stolen! radio, theft of a spotlight, and i being found without lawful ex-| i cuse in premises. He had previously pleaded guilty. FALSE STATEMENT A woman, whose name was; ; suppressed, pleaded guilty to a i charge of making a false state: ; nient to the police. She was coni victed and ordered to come up j (for sentence within six months! lif called upon. I. Sergeant A. H. Huckstep said: that the defendant told the police that her flatmate's male friend had broken a quantity ol her glassware. It was later, learned that the glassware did not belong to lier. When she was told by the ; police that the glassware was; not hers, she said nothing could be done about it because she had i not signed anything. REMAND IN CUSTODY ' A man who is charged with; i assaulting a number of persons! with intent to injure them at a 1 party in Sherborne Street on j I June 14 was remanded in custody to June 24. No plea was | entered. : Mr G. M. Abbot, wlio appeared ■ for the defendant, Geoffrey Don- ' aid Aitken, aged 20, requested suppression of ' the defendant’s name because of the publicity the incident had received, and because a co-oft'ender, Samuel James Cullen, who appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, had his name suppressed on that occasion. Tile Magistrate said that the offence was a criminal one, and therefore the names would not i oe suppressed. ASSAULT CHARGE John Winston Caley, aged 34. unemployed, was convicted and fined S3O when lie pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on June 14. Sergeant Huckstep said the defendant punched the complainant on the shoulder and knocked him down. The complainant suffered a cut on the back of his head. Caley said he was wild with the complainant and struck him. THEFT OF JEANS A young woman, whose name was suppressed, was convicted and fined $4O when she pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of jeans valued at $22.50 from Snob Boutique on May 13. The Magistrate said that he suppressed tlie defendant’s name because she was young and a first offender. THEFT OF LAMB David Hamilton Bromilow, aged 57, unemployed, was convicted and fined $4O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of lamb valued at 51.97 from WoolI worths. Ltd, New Brighton, on i June 15.

THEFT OF TIES Desmond Patrick Egan, aged , 49, a storeman, was convicted and fined $4O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of ; two ties valued at $9.90 from ; Woolworths, N.Z.. Ltd. at New Brighton on June 15. REMAND Douglas Janies Archer, aged ; 21, an unemployed cook (Mr C A. McVeigh), was again re ; mantled on bail to June 21 when I lie appeared on a charge of attempting to rob Betty Cocks ! of a quantity of drugs of an unknown value, on June 6. No plea was entered. TRESPASS CHARGE Paul Andrew Densby. aged 25, i a carpenter, was convicted and I fined 525 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of trespassing on premises in Durham Street on June 16 DANGEROUS DRIVING William Dominie Dickson, i aged 19, was convicted and fined i SSU and disqualified from driving for six months when lie [ pleaded guilty to a charge of ! driving in a dangerous manner. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL Peter Michael Dawson, aged 23, a sales representative (Mr A. K. Grant), was convicted and fined $lOO and disqualified from driv-! ing for nine months when he 1 pleaded guilty to a charge of 1 driving with an excessive blood-i alcohol level (170 mg (Before Mr J. D. Kinder, S.M.i; CARELESS DRTVLNG I A youth at present serving a term of Borstal training was found guilty to carelessly using' a motor vehicle, causing death.' Graham Mark Lightowler, aged I 19 (Mr D. H. B. Dawson), was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months! if ordered to do so. and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He pleaded not guilty. The charge arose from a motor accident in Cathedral Square on January 30. when the truck: Lightowler was driving collided with Alice Rubina Gibson, Senior-Sergeant G. A. Clewer' said for tlie police. She died from injuries re-1 ceived as tlie result of the accident. Constable K S. Rowe said he attended the accident and interviewed the defendant at the scene. The defendant estimated his speed to be 20 m.p.h.. Constable Rowe said, and tliat the woman suddenly appeared in his path. He said he did not break or swerve to avoid her, because he was “on top of her before he knew it.” Mr A. 1. Anderson said he was standing on the balcony of a hotel in the square at the time of the accident, and saw the deceased standing on the white centre line of the road by the Bank of New Zealand before be-’ ing hit bv the truck. He said the truck cut the comer and hit the woman. Lightowler said he followed the route of a car in front of him into the Square. “I didn’t see her,” he said. “I have no doubt that the lady standing in the centre of i the road placed herself in a hazardous position, hut nonetheless vou were negligent, in that ■ vou did not see her,” the Magi- ; strate said, sentencing Lightowler.