Injured man to get half of fine

Press, 15 March 1980, Page 4

Injured man to get half of fine

. A New Brighton dairy proprietor, who was knocked to the ground and kicked with ,steel-capped boots when he observed the suspicious behaviour of two men outside a motor-cycle shop is to receive I half of the $4OO fine imposed ion the man who assaulted (him. I Mr Justice Cook in the (Supreme Court yesterday fin]ed Peter James Beckwith, • aged 31, a driver, $4OO on a 'charge of assaulting Victor George Herbert on October • 18 and ordered that half the fine be paid to Mr Herbert.

Evidence was given at a trial last week that Beckol with and another man who were on a paynight pub crawl 'stopped their station waggon outside a motor-cycle Shop in Bowhill Road about 10 p.m. On hearing, a suspicious noise Mr Herbert, who lives opposite, went outside to investigate. He saw one man disappearing around the side of the shop and Beckwith sitting in the driver’s seat. Beckwith' shouted, “Havje you seeh enough, you nosey bastard?” He made a.U-turn and; stopped in front of Mr Herbert,,- When Mr Herbert stepped out to look at the ntiinber plate Beckwith struck !him several blows and when he fell to the ground put the boot in, according to the evidence. .1 Mr H. D. P. Van Schreven, ifor Beckwith, said that the !prisoner- still maintained his innocence. It was his first ap- | pearance, in Court and it had • been a traumatic experience for him. The matter had been (hanging over his head for six Imdnths.