‘Loan not questioned’

Press, 16 May 1979, Page 7

‘Loan not questioned’

“The circumstances surrounding this loan are very strange to say the least,” said Detective Sergeant N. T. Higgison, after the Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday that a disabled man had lent $4OOO to a housewife without asking why. Shirlee Anne Spence, aged 35, appeared again before Mr B. A. Palmer, S.M., facing nine charges of false pretence, and three of obtaining credit by fraud. On Friday, the court heard that it was alleged she had written cheques for. more, than $l2OO between December, 1978, and January, 1979, knowing that there was not enough money in the account to honour them. The man, whose name and occupation were suppressed, said that he had known the defendant for about a year. He said that he had received

■ a severe back injury and was trying to find a new job ’in Christchurch and the . defendant had been helping - him to find employment. The defendant had tele--1 phoned him on December, j 1978, and asked him for a loan, and he had agreed to I lend her money on condition j that she discuss it with his - lawyer. s The man said that he had - given her a cheque for $2500 “between Christmas and I New Year, sometime.” He 1 had then gone on holiday • and when he returned after ■ about two weeks, the , defendant had asked him for ; more money and he had i given her $l5OO in cash, he said. I The money had been given , in an agreement that the : defendant repaid it with . $lOOO interest as soon as I she sold her business.

Counsel, Mr G. M. Brodie, submitted that seven of the charges against the defendant should be dropped because there was not enough evidence to establish a case. He said that no handwriting evidence was available for the times she was alleged to have cashed cheques and that other persons had been identified as having cashed the cheques. The Magistrate said that he would reserve his decision on counsel’s submission until all the evidence had been heard. Counsel said that he had had trouble arranging for a witness to be in Court and asked that the case be adjourned until tomorrow. The Magistrate remanded the defendant on all charges until tomorrow when further evidence from the defence will be heard.