Defendant sick, case adjourned

Press, 11 June 1977, Page 22

Defendant sick, case adjourned

The second day's hearing of charges against six members of the Templeton motor-cycle gang in connection with incidents which' occurred outside the gang’s headquarters on April 2 was yesterday adjourned to June This was because one of the s.x defendants, Michael Colin Best, aged 20, had been ill overnight. When Mr J. S. Bisphan. S.M., was told this by Best’s: counsel (Mr K. N. Hampton) at 10 a.m. he adjourned the hearntg to 2.15 p.m. to enable counsel either to obtain a doctor’s certificate or determine whether his client: would be fit enough tO' appear at that time. U hen counsel and the other five defendants — Peter John Gallagher, aged 19; Stuart Donald Jordan.i aged 20: Michael Anthony Holloway, aged 20: Gary Wayne Tavendale. aged 19;

; and David Arthur Best, aged 23 — reassembled at 2.15) i p.m., Mr Hampton said his: • client would be unable to; appear and presented a doc-' ; tor’s certificate. • The Magistrate said that' t as al! six defendants had to be present, he would adjourn! 'the hearing. Seventeen witnesses gave) 1 evidence on the first day’s hearing on Thursday. All six defendants face) : charges of being members of i an unlawful assembly in the. ! Main South Road and of i wilfully damaging a $l3OO •car owned bv Margaret; • Mary Walker. Michael Best is also' • charged with setting fire to! the car and Jordan faces! i additional charges of dam-! • aging another car owned by i Hone Simon Hone, and of| assaulting Patricia Haye! Bennett, a passenger in Mr : Hone’s car.