Egg-throwing thrown out

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 7

Egg-throwing thrown out

PA Dunedin The throwing of an egg during a demonstration against the Prime Minister resulted in the appearance of Douglas Jeffrey Habgood, aged 2 , a student, ur the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court. A charge against him of behavi- - in a 11-orderly manner was dismissed by D J. D. Murray, S.M. Habgood pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr J. K. Guthrie. Sergeant 4. W. Holmes prosecuted. Constable R. M. Wilson said he was outside the Savoy Building at 10 p.m. on August 25. He went to open a car door for the Prime Minister when an egg came from over his right shoulder and splattered on the car roof. Witness turned to see defenaant folding his arms. He was in a line with the direction from which the egg had

come, and witness was quite satisfied Habgood was responsible. When arrested, defendant h-.d a bag of flour in his possession. This was thrown over his shoulder in an attempt to get rid of it. Habgood said in evidence that he did not throw the egg and did not have any eggs in his possession. He had borrowed the flour from a friend, bit had not been to his home to drop it off Two women who were in the area also gave evidence that the defendant did not throw the egg. It did not come from his direction, but neiher was able to see who threw it. Mr Murray said that defendant’s evidence was not reliable at all, but the evidence of the women raised some doubt as to who had thrown the egg. This left a small area of doubt that required him to dismiss the charge.