Escaper found under bed

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 5

Escaper found under bed

Brian John Wealleans was discovered hiding under a bed hi a Christchurch house on December 5, 12 days after he had escaped from the custody of Addington Prison, the Magistrate's Court heard. Wealleans, aged 18, pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody for sentence. The defendant was in custody until a defended hearing on six charges relating to an incident in Geraldine Street when he escaped from the prison. He pleaded guilty to one of those charges on Monday, that of being a member of an unlawful assembly, and pleaeded not guilty to the other five charges of assault with intent to injure. Wealleans was remanded on all charges to January 10 for a further fixture. He will also be sentenced on the escaping charge on that date. Sergeant J. C. Rowe told the Court that about 10.40 p.m. on Tuesday. November 23. Wealleans was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment for suspected appendicitis. He escaped while being escorted from the prison van and ran up a hill at the back of the hospital. On December 5 the police received information that the defendant was at a Christchurch address and when a search was made. Weal leans was discovered

{hiding under a bed in the house.; When questioned, he said he I had been out of Christchurch Sand just returned. A 16-year-old girl has been charged in the Children and Young Persons Court with harbouring Wealleans. Monkey business A British court has banned a female usurper named) Queen Kong from threatening the long sway of King) Kong. The court granted an| injunction restraining Dexter; Films from distributing a ■ new film called “Queen! Kong” pending a full hearing of a copyright dispute.! R.K.0., maker of the original King Kong film in 1933, sought the injunction along with the Dino de Laurnetis Corporation, licensed by R.K.O. to make a new King Kong film costing more than SI2M. The King’s backers) accused the Queen of aping) the original — and imperil-1 ling his reputation by bot-i ching the job. — London. )