Bonds of love

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 23

Bonds of love

PA Auckland Just a few hours after a man was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court at North Shore to a year’s imprisonment he was married — with a policeman as his best man. The man was given a total of a year’s imprisonment when he appeared before the court on charges of wilful damage, false pretence, theft, and burglary. His girlfriend explained ■to Constable R. E. Stevens, of the Takanuna police, that they were to have been married at 4 p.m. in the court registrar’s office.

By that time, however, the man would have been en route to, or even inside, Mount Eden prison. With the co-operation of court officials, Constable Stevens was able to bring forward the wedding appointment and found himself “best man,” and along with the bride’s sister became part of the wedding party. His duties included handing the ring to the groom. “Sometimes we can do these little things,” said Constable Stevens. "We gave him as much time with his wife as we possibly could”