Handcuffs in court queried

Press, 17 July 1979, Page 4

Handcuffs in court queried

'he Courts

Criticism of handcuffs i worn by five young men fac-‘ mg a charge of murder was levelled at the police in the; Magistrate’s Court yesterday.; Mr K. N. Hampton, counsel for one of the defendants, questioned - whether the use; of handcuffs was necessary; and suggested that it was “an 1 advanced public relations job on the part of the* police.” He said that an atmos-; phere was being created on behalf of the prosecution. Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M.J sought a written report on the use of handcuffs in the case of the five defendants. ; Appearing in the dock I were: Wayne Edward Gush,! aged 23, a fitter-welder; Mat-i

thew Morgan Kine. aged 20.; a labourer; Anthony Josephj Johnston, aged 22. a lamina-' tor; Russell James Pirie, aged' 24, unemployed; and Raymond Barry Bradley, aged' 18. a moulder. All were charged with the murder of Peter Hainiona on July 13. No pleas were entered. The five defendants were; remanded in custody to 1 July 23. Sergeant M. P. Caldwell also sought an interim psychiatric assessment on the' five men which the Magis-' trate authorised. Mr Hampton appeared on behalf of Gush. The duty! solicitor. Mr K. J. Jones, ap-

geared for the other four de-( ifenclants. I On behalf of Gush Mr Hampton sought a remand .for the taking of depositions; before a Magistrate. He also asked why his ■client had been taken tqi ; Paparua Prison on Saiurdayi (when he first appeared in I court and not to Addington,, the normal remand prison. The Magistrate said thatj where a person was held in 1 custody was a matter for the prison authorities to determine. More policemen than usual! were in the courtroom during the brief appearance of the: defendants. REMANDED A taxi-driver, charged with! obtaining $4114 from the! Social Welfare Department by means of a false pretence, i was remanded to July 23. : Pent Taunoa, aged 33, i I

(faces a further charge of [forging a medical certificate: on or about February 17 last; (year. The alleged false pretence 'offence is said to have oc-j curred between October. (1977, and April 5, 1979. j No plea was entered b\ ( 'the defendant. He was re-i imanded on bail of $4OO. THEFT ALLEGED I A masseuse, aged 20. was ■ remanded without plea to, (July 23 on a charge of steal-: ing a fur coat. She was: allowed bail. Robyn Carol McGrath was charged with stealing the (coat, valued at $296, the pro perty of Ballantyne. and Co., (Ltd, on July 13. MENACES CHARGE A showman charged with demanding with menaces a . pair of spectacles, valued at I $B5, from a man with intent I:

to steal them, was remanded to July 23 \t ithout plea. Bail was opposed by Sergeant Caldwell. Michael Albert Momo, aged 19, is alleged to have committed the offence on Sunday. The remand was in custody. INDECENCY < HARGI A man charged with attempting to indecently assault a girl aged eight, was remanded in custody tn July Jean Edwin Alvina, aged 28. is alleged to have committed the offence on Saturday. No plea was entered. THEFT CIIARGI Brent Lloyd Hubhei. aged 22. unemployed, was charged with stealing a Visa card on July 10. He was remanded ■ n bail to July 23. No plea was entered.