'Mob rule' must be avoided, says S.M. to men in court

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 6

'Mob rule' must be avoided, says S.M. to men in court

PA Timaru The rule of law would be substituted by mob rule if the public supported attacks tn the headquarters of gangs. Mr 1. Hay. S.M.. said in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru j esterdav. Answering suggestions that the public supported the attack on a Toeodosia Street house last month, the Magis■ate said no person could ,-ipport such an affair. Eight persons were anpearing for sentence on charges of unlawful assembly arising Lorn the attack. Six received Mree-month prison terms, one received two months and the t>ther was fined $5OO. The Magistrate said that by attacking the headquarters of a motor-cvcie gang, the defendants had not defused the i tuation. but had inflamed It. A deterrent sentence was ailed for. although the prison terms would not be long “in view of ail the circumstances ” The defendants had all pre- j tp-us’v n’ead°d gui'tv to befre members of an unlawful i se-tb l ’’ attacked the hnn-e counsel said »he attack had tajo-. ho/-inse of orev’oua ' . nv ->tvi-» members; 6f the motor-cycle gang.