No harassment, says detective

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 5

No harassment, says detective

A young man who made a detailed written statement admitting that he had burgled six premises now alleged that the admissions were false, and were made as the result of police brutality, Mr Justice Somers and a jury were told in the Supreme Court yesterday. Keith Mark Oldroyd, aged 21, an unemployed Englishman who has been in New Zealand for three years, has pleaded not guilty to burgling the Point Elizabeth Coal Depot, in Clarence Street; the Josette Beauty Salon; the offices of Dr Kenneth James Wilson . and Dr Bruce Thompson, and Raymond Douglas Comfort, all in High Street; and the South Brighton Pharmacy, in Estuary Road. All the offences were alleged to have occurred in August. Mr R. L. Kerr appears for the Crown, and Messrs J. Cadenhead and W. F. Morgan for Oldroyd. Constable Paul Raymond Rodgers said that early in September he found two bags in a vehicle driven by Oldroyd. A shoulder bag had in it a small silver box containing small glass tubes which appeared to havi drugs in them, and a kit-bae had two doctor’s prescription pad forms. Oldroyd alleged that they had been left behind by a formei flatmate. Evidence was given earliei that the items had beer stolen from the premises oi the doctors in High Street. Detective Kevin Maxwel Burrowes said that he inter viewed Oldroyd or September 26, when he gav< a detailed account of how h< had broken into the Souti Brighton Pharmacy bj smashing a window. Wher the alarm sounded he madt

off, but cut his hand while getting out the window. Oldroyd said that he had planned to steal money, but if he had seen drugs he would have taken them. He also admitted breaking into the Point Elizabeth Coal Depot by forcing a rear door with a screwdriver — after waiting for a security guard to make a check of the i premises. i While searching the premI ises with a torch, he heard the security guard returning; and ran and hid under a railway carriage while the police and dogs made a search of the area. He was not found. He had climbed the fire I escape of the building coni taining the High Street Medical Centre, and entered i through a skylight. He broke i into several offices and stole : a small torch, a stethoscope, ja pocket calculator, and red I containers. ; He made a long statement (admitting the offences, and i some of the articles he I admitted stealing were found lin the house in Gloucester (Street where he was Jiving. I To Mr Cadenhead, Detecitive Burrowes denied burstj'ing in the door of the Gioucester Street house, and punching Oldroyd in the I stomach. Oldroyd had never i been struck in any manner, Ihe said. He also denied that while being questioned Oldroyd 1 was put in a headlock and ! punched in the kidneys, as alleged, nor was a metal | wastepaper basket put over I his head and struck. Oldroyd’s fingerprints ilwere not found at any of : the premises which were i; burgled, he said. Detective William Thiele i-gave corroborative evi- ■ jdence.