MAGISTRATE’S COURT Assault at New Year’s party

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34041, 3 January 1976, Page 13

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Assault at New Year’s party

A man aged 39, who was restrained by guests at a New Year’s Eve party, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his de facto wife, before Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Paul Heather, a factory worker, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon in the next six months. Detective Sergeant D. N. Scott said that at 10 p.m. Heather and Rae Rogerson were entertaining guests when an argument took place in the bathroom. The defendant hit the complainant three times, causing her to fall into the bath. He struck her again while she was on the floor, and kicked her.

Detective Sergeant Scott said that Heather was restrained by guests. The complainant suffered a bruised nose and right arm, and sore hips. The defendant said he had lost his temper and struck her. THREE CHARGES Joseph Ngaika. aged 23, a cable layer, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing one torch, one leather glove, and a pair of binoculars, a charge of getting into a Holden car, valued at $2OOO, and a charge of stealing six bottles of beer, one too] box, and tools. He was convicted and remanded to January 9 for sentence.

‘ Detective Sergeant D. N. Scott said that at 3.45 a.m. on January 1 the defendant and I two others were in the city ■ celebrating New Year’s Eve. ■ They decided to take a car. The defendant removed the tool box and beer from the boot of a car, approached another car, and got into it. Detective Sergeant Scott said that Ngaika tried to start another car with a key he had. He then took the torch and other property from the

car. When approached, he did not give any reason for his actions. DRUNK CHARGES

James McNeilly, aged 42. a boiler-maker’s labourer, having been convicted for drunkenness three times in the last | three months, pleaded guilty | to a further charged of drunkenness. in Cathedral Square on Thursday. McNeilly was convicted and sentenced to seven days imprisonment, followed by al period of probation for 12' months. The Magistrate told the defendant that he had better take note of his drunkenness. If it continued, he might not be around for very much longer. Thomas Keane, aged 56, a construction worker, pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk in Colombo Street on New Year’s Day. He wasj convicted and discharged. OBSCENE LAUGUAGE John Leslie Trowbridge,: aged 18, a moulder, pleaded guilty to a charge of using ■ obscene language in Marine I Parade on January 1. He was: convicted and fined $3O.