Amos appeal successful

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 27

Amos appeal successful

y> \ Auckland An appeal by Philip Albert Amos, the former Minister of Education, against his conviction on a charge of obstructing a police officer in October last year, has been allowed by Mr Justice Speight. An Auckland company director, Patrick Hall Taylor, ■ also convicted on the obstruction charge had his appeal dismissed. The charges followed the visit to Auckland of the nuclear - powered warship Long Beach and protest actions taken by both men. Amos and Taylor were ar-i rested on October 1 when their boats, the yacht Dolphin; and the catamaran Stormbringer had sailed directly i under the bow of the Long! Beach and had failed to obey, police commands to move. In a written decision Mr I

Justice Speight said the conviction against Amos was based on an error of law. lhe only finding of fact ir. the Magistrate’s Court wai that Amos must have heard calls from the police to ge : out of the way and had de dined to comply, his Honour said. This did not give rise to a charge of obstruction be cause under the circum stances the police had n< ipow'er to order a vessel which had the collision regulations in its favour. In upholding the appeal his Honour allowed .costs of $lOO. In the matter of Taylor, hi Honour said the police wer acting in the course of thei 'duty in attempting to remove ; a person acting unlawful!; and in attempting to sav< ■ persons from reasonably {apprehended danger. In dismissing the appea he allowed costs of $lOO to I the respondent.