Crypt photographer faces theft charge

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 6

Crypt photographer faces theft charge

PA Wellington!) An Australian photographer 1 allegedly in the “Walding 1 affair” appeared in the Well- j ington Magistrate’s Court | yesterday on a charge of i theft after a warrant had [ been issued for his arrest. Peter James Harrison was j remanded at the request of ; Sergeant L J. Shanks to ap- , pear in the Auckland Mag- t istrate’s Court. No charges were read dur- < ing the brief hearing but a police spokesman said that ; Harrison was charged with < the theft of photographic ’ equipment valued at $2249 i Harrison, who has been in Wellington Hospital since ; Saturday was remanded in j custody by Mr B. J. McK. < Kerr, S.M., after submissions ! in chambers. < He was discharged from i

hospital last night. The acting Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) said yesterday that Harrison would appear as a witness before a special police tribunal on September 19, presided over by New Zealand’s senior Magistrate, Mr J. A. Wicks. The tribunal would inquire into a disciplinary charge against a policeman also involved in the “Walding affair.” which relates to an incident in the Crypt night j club in Auckland. Harrison allegedly photographed the former Labour Cabinet Mnister, Mr Joe Walding, in the company of two transvestites. A police spokesman said yesterday that Harrison had been examined by a doctor at the Wellington Central Police Station on Saturday, and, because of a medical problem he had before his

arrest, the doctor had recorn- : mended that he be admitted; I to hospital. i He was taken to hospital : and detained there under' ■ police guard. Harrison yesterday tele- : phoned a reporter and at- . tempted to pass on what he termed “further information.” ; He spoke to an “Evening ; Post” reporter from the psy- ■ chiatric ward at Wellington ; Hospital. i The call lasted about two » minutes before it was cut off, apparently by someone who ■ approached Harrison saying, • “Come on Harrison, what are > you doing?” f The phone then went dead. Mr Walding said last night I that he had a policy of sayI ing nothing about the night- ■ club incident. 1 “But I presume I will be , called as a witness,” he said. I “Till the tribunal, I’m not i saying anything.”