'Vicious robbery’ leads to gaol

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 19

' Vicious robbery’ leads to gaol

Vicious attacks with s the hoot would not be)’ tolerated by the Courts;’ and the community, Mr j Justice Casey said in the it Supreme Court yester-it day when sentencing)! two men to five years jj imprisonment on i ( charges of aggravated i robbery. ‘ I The men, Thomas Goffe, s aged 28, and Hugh Tango, aged 21, both unemployed, 1 were found guilty’ by a jury 1 last week on a charge of the i aggravated robbery of $3OO, 1 tape recorder, radio, two war j medals and a Post Office ; (Savings Bank pass book ; (from Laurence Raymond < Hunt on November 16. is Evidence was given at thel trial that Phillip Edward < Martin, a foundry moulder, < (had held a drunken noisy 1 party at his residence in < 'Pinewood. A mini-tanker t (holding 105 gallons of beer < xvac un the* hark hwn c

and the party continued; throughout the whole of; Saturday night. On the Sunday morning, lived next door, threw him to the floor, beat him up and kicked him in the head, the two prisoners, who had been drinking for many hours, burst into the home of Mr Hunt, aged 60, who Mr Hunt was left lying unconscious and covered in blood on the floor. He spent several days in hospital. When the police went to the party next door they found several persons asleep in a drunken stupor on benches, chairs and the garage floor. They were photographed before being aroused. Among them was Goffe who had some articles stolen from Mr Hunt. Mr P. M. James, for Goffe, said that the first 30 years of his life had been blameless and it was not until he) committed a domestic assault that he first came before the Court. He was at present rx r i cr a corifpnt'p f r

burglary’ which was committed after the aggravated robbery. It had to be conceded that that it was a brutal robbery but fortunately’ the complainant suffered no lasting effects. Both prisoners were obviously affected by drink to such an extent that they could have been in a comatose state. There was evidence that drugs had been taken. There was no evidence that Goffe intended to gain from the robbery because after the offence all that was found on him was a bank pass book and some small items of little value. Mr James said. Mr A. W. Robinson, for Tango, said that evidence had been given that the prisoner was known for his excessive drinking and he got himself into a state where little or no sense could be got from him. It was possible that Tango had been in the house without really’ knowing what hp was rlnincr

> There was no evidence that Tango had stolen anything from the house. Although he had convictions for burglary in 1972 and 1975 he had never before been convicted of such a serious charge. Mr Robinson said. His Honour said that both prisoners displayed a callous indifference to Mr Hunt’s condition. It was obvious that, for all they cared, he could have died or suffered a permanent brain injury. He suffered a broken nose and severe bruising about the eyes. “I have no doubt that this incident will have left its ’mark on his memory and (personality for the rest of this life,” his Honour said, j From the description of Ithe party it was obvious i that both Goffe and Tango (were both badly affected by j liquor when they attacked [and robbed Mr Hunt. But he iwas satisfied that both knew [very well what, they were (doing and what they’ wanted.

“Violence of this nature is almost always associated with liquor and 1 can make some allowance for rhe view that you might not have done this while sober,’' said his Honour. “But I must impose a sentence that even affected by i drink, people will realise that vicious attacks with the : boot are not going to be tol- ; erated by the courts or the! ; community. I I “I also suggest that our . lawmakers might ponder the J inevitable result of the sale : of large quantities of liquor for immediate consumption > away from the supposed ; supervision of licensed I premises. ' “The evidence shows that a mini-tanker of 105 gal- ! lons was obtained for this ; private party but the supply > of such a large quantity of t liquor could never have been I contemplated by the framers ; of our licensing laws. ' “The results are as pre- ■■ dictable as they are undesihis Honour.