Magistrate’s Court “Brutal attack” on drunken man

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 13

Magistrate’s Court “Brutal attack” on drunken man

Three youths who were said to have brutally beaten a drunken man by the use of fists, boots, and a bottle on August 14, were granted bail by Mr E. S. J- Crutchley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Two of the youths, Arthur John Tihema, aged 18, an apprentice fitter and turner, and Robbie Finau, aged 19, a fitter and turner, pleaded guilty to assaulting Bernard Ngapuhi with intent to injure h The third vouth, Philip Leonard Withell, aged 17 an apprentice mechanic, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. Sergeant B. G. Saunders said that two of the youths had spent most of the day in a city hotel where they were joined by the third youth at night. They had had several arguments with the defendant, who was also drinking in the hotel, during the day. When the complainant left the hotel after closing time he was followed by the defendants. Sergeant Saunders said that the complainant was struck with a broken bottle and kicked and hit about the face, and left unconscious in Ferry Road. The assault was witnessed by seven people. A tuft of hair was found at the scene by the police and broken glass was found in the complainant’s hair, said Sergeant Saunders. All three youths will appear for sentence on August 30. FORGERIES A youth who took his father’s savings bank book and his mother’s cheque book and forged withdrawal receipts and cheques to obtain 5316.20 cash, pleaded guilty to eight charges. Robert William Bell, aged 18. an unemployed timber worker, was convicted on

three charges of false pretence, two charges of forgery, and one charge each of theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unreasonably discharging a firearm near a house. He was remanded for a week for reports and sentence.

In addition to the cheque and pass-book offences, Bell had taken, with an associate, $llO worth of wedding presents left in a room in his house. They belonged to his sister-in-law, the Court was told.

Sergeant Saunders said that on two occasions, in January and February, Bell had taken his father’s Canterbury Savings Bank book into the bank and had filled out withdrawal slips for $5O and $6O. On three occasions in March and April, the defendant had filled out cheques in his mother’s Bank of New Zealand cheque book and had cashed them for sums of $6O, $60.20, and $B6. Sergeant Saunders said that on August 11, the defendant and an associate had gone to his parents’ home, where his sister-in-law’s wedding presents were being kept in a spare room. They had taken a cutlery set, an electric mixer, two stuffed fur poodles, a stuffed cat, and a stuffed leopard, worth a total of isllo. The police had been unable to locate any of this property, he said.

Before calling the police, Bell’s family had tried to reason with him to get him to confess to the offences and recover the wedding presents, but they had been unable to, Sergeant Saunders said. DANGEROUS DRIVING

After passing through four sets of red lights, 19-year-

old Brent James McCallister told the police that he thought he was being chased by the Devil’s Henchmen.

The defendant pleaded guilty to driving in a dangerous manner and was remanded to August 30 for sentence.

Sergeant Saunders said that a police patrol car drove behind the defendant, who was riding a Triumph motorcycle in Colombo Street. The defendant had suddenly accelerated and did not stop until he reached Papanui Road. Sergeant Saunders said the patrol had its flashing light on throughout the chase.

(Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) 35 CHARGES

An unemployed Hungarian pay clerk convicted of 35 charges of forgery and false pretence involving $1232 was sentenced to nine months periodic detention. Gyorgy Illes, aged 38, had pleaded guilty to 16 charges of forgery, 18 of false pretence, and one of theft. The offences occurred at the Wellington and Christchurch branches of the Post Office Savings Bank during July. After finding an Inland Revenue cheque for $627.30, the defendant had opened a P. 0.5.8. account in the name of the person named, on the cheque. The defendant had gone to various branches of the bank and had forged withdrawal receipts in that name and had withdrawn sums of money. The balance in the passbook had been altered by the defendant to show there was more money in the account. ,