'Mistaken identity of little comfort'

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 7

'Mistaken identity of little comfort'

A man seeking retribution 1 after hi-s girl'friend had been beaten up later'found “to his horror”- that he’had assaulted the'wrbng ; person, said Mr C. 8.. 'Eason' in 5 the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.pSlr -Jr S. v Bisphan, S.M., said such mistaken" identity was 6 of : little ■ comfort to the complainant. Violent conduct of - this nature could only be met by one ' -'type .of sentence, he said, when sentencing John Anthony Neeson Harris to prison for six months. ’ East' week the .Magistrate had been 1 told that about ll.4Qp.ni, on February 1 Harps' and a companion, whil^j'driving in High Street, had'.'Seefi the" complainant talking ©’two girls. The two' had approached the complainant, punched him in? the face and body, and when he fell to the groundithey had kicked him several times in the chest and spoifider. and had left him lying on the footpath. The complainant had received, hospital treatment and’had ' lb stitches put in a cut above his eye. He . had also '"suffered grazing and bruis'ing.’... The . Magistrate said the offense showed that the defendant was prepared to go outside the law. It wa-s a serjopg.. assault in public against a person who would idea what'was going" on,' -Counsel., (iyir.. C. D. Eason) saidLthat. Harris, ■ who was released. from, prison. , last

October, had a substantial list of previous offending. His client had been- adamant that he had only punched the complainant three times and kicked him once, Mr Eason said. BURGLARY OFFENCES

Two men jointly charged and convicted on burglary offences were each remanded on bail of $3OOO to April 14 for probation reports and sentence. Gordon Maurice Elley, aged 19, a glass worker, and Mark Maxwell Quartley, aged 21, a cleaner, admitted breaking and entering a shed atthe Christchurch Polytechnic and breaking into the premises of New Zealand Farmers, Ltd,- . -- The offences took place on March 16. Detective Sergeant B._ M. Roswell said that at 11.30 p.m. the two men left their city address with the intention of committing a burglary at the Farmers’• store.' On the way they went first to the Christchurch Polytechnic where they broke into a shed and removed a sledge hammer and a pick axe. The pair then made their way down back streets to the Farmers which they entered through a fanlight on the roof. '

.In the appliance departmenL said Sergeant Roswell, the men moved refrigerators to. shield them from view. They then used a pick axe on the wall in an attempt to get into the strongroom. ..

Both defendants were caught in the store and both said they were after money. Burglary tools were found in their possession. Each was allowed bail of $lOOO with two approved sureties of the same amount. DRUG CHARGE Douglas John Keen, agec 24, unemployed, was reman, ded in custody to April 3 or a charge of importing a class A-controlled drug. No plea was entered by the defendant who is alleged tc have imported . Lysergide (LSD) into New Zealand or March 28. BURGLARY CHARGES Bail was set at $3OOO wher Darryl Charles Brown, agee 19, unemployed, appeared or two charges of burglary. It is'alleged that Browt broke into and entered the Branston Street premises o Polar Cold Storage, Ltd, ane the Penn Place premises o Celcure Timber Preserva tions, Ltd, on March 14. Brown was remanded t< May 25 for-a. defended hear ing. .... The Magistrate allowed bai of $lOOO with two approve sureties of the same amounl