Random reminder

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 21

Random reminder

FROM THE COURTS - I

“Six-foot” Fence, the well known (and well built) receiver of stolen goods is at the centre of a bizarre chain of events which have given rise to a Supreme Court trial currently proceeding in Christchurch. The Crown alleges that Fence approached a man in a hotel and offered to sell him a “hot” colour television set. The prospective purchaser allowed cupidity to overcome both caution and morality and agreed to the purchase. The set was subsequently delivered under cloak of darkness to the purchaser’s house. When he plugged it in for the first time it immediatelycaught fire. The purchaser went

round to the bar where the deal had been transacted, where he found Six-foot Fence spending his ill-gotten gains. The purchaser remonstrated with Fence who slapped his thigh, bellowed “! said it was hot, didn’t I?” and laughed uproariously. The purchaser then went to the police. Both he and Fence have now been charged with receiving. Fence is being defended by the wellknown lawyer, Mr I. B. Prolix, and the prospective purchaser, whose name has been suppressed in the interim, is being defended by a lawyer whose name has also been suppressed. The presiding Judge is Mr Justice Laggin who

has already threatened to commit both counsel for contempt There were some grounds for doing so, inasmuch as when he came on to the bench, both counsel rose to their feet and blew paper squeakers at him. They then persisted in describing him to the jury as “That old B — in the woolly hat.” The Judge has reserved his decision on what legal authorities regard as a most fascinating submission by Mr Prolix, to the effect that no evidence at all should be admitted against his client since, as Mr Prolix put it. “There is nothing mor* prejudicial than evidence.” The trial is continuing.