SUBMISSIONS IN HAIN CASE

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 17

SUBMISSIONS IN HAIN CASE

(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 7. Prosecuting counsel in the trial for bank robbery of Peter Hain, the British Young Liberals’ leader and anti-apartheid activist, yesterday replied to a defence submission that the Old Bailey jury hearing the case “could not convict a cat of stealing from a dustbin on the evidence you have heard.”

Mr Michael Corkery, Q-C.,. was summing up for the Crown on the seventh day of the Central Criminal .Court trial in which Hain, aged 26. has denied stealing £490 from the counter of Barclays Bank branch in Putney on October 24 of last year. Mr Corkery referred to the evidence of Mrs Lucy

.Haines, the cashier from whom the money was ; snatched; Mr Timothy lHayne, the bank accountant -who chased the thief: and Mrs Eileen Cooper, who had (been in the bank at the time |of the robbery. j Mr Corkery reminded the (jury that Mrs Haines, who had picked out Hain at an : identification parade, had isaid that the features were ! identical, although she had ;not been absolutely certain ; about the hair. The other witnesses had I not been able to identify Hain as the thief, but had noted similarities. ' The verdict is expected i later today.