Hotel assault in retaliation

Press, 11 May 1979, Page 10

Hotel assault in retaliation

PA Auckland An Auckland hotel bar was splattered with blood during a fight in w’hich four men, including a former boxing champion, allegedly sought to avenge the brutal stabbing of a friend, the Magistrate’s Court was told at Auckland on Tuesday. David Robert Dunlop, aged 33, an unemployed labourer, William Henry Brown, aged 35, an unemployed painter, and Brian Ivan Agnew (34), a publisher, all admitted assaulting Kito Boyd, David Wood, and Ricky Gooden on March 13.

Dunlop and Agnew were convicted and remanded in custody to May 11 for a report and sentence. Brown was convicted and remanded in custody to May 15. Sergeant P. Hawke said four men entered De Bretts Hotel and approached the complainant and an associate. One was carrying some type of weapon wrapped in a newspaper. The com-

plainant, Gooden, was knocked to the floor and repeatedly hit and kicked by three of the men. An associate was also struck, and a with his arms pinned behind his back to stop him from interfering.

Sergeant Hawke said blood W’as splattered over the tables and chairs which were sent flying during the incident. The men were questioned by the police after a witness noticed them making off at high speed in a car w’hich had been parked in High Street.

Counsel for Dunlop and Agnew (Mr P. A. Williams) said the event was the result of an assault outside a Kingsland house on March 12, in which a man was stabbed eight times and required 40 stitches. Outraged at the assault on their friend, the men allegedly ascertained who was responsible and went looking for him. After a short exchange of words, a fight took place. The injuries to the other persons were incidental.

Mr Williams described Dunlop as one of the best boxers in Australia and New Zealand.