26 charges against four men include kidnap claim

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 4

26 charges against four men include kidnap claim

An incident described as having a domestic background, in which a young man was allegedly kidnapped during a search for the wife of one defendant, led to four men facing a total of 26 charges in the District Court yesterday. The prosecutor Sergeant M. J. South) said that a- resident near one address which was visited by a group during the search used an unloaded .22 rifle to make them leave the scene. The four defendants have elected trial by jury on the 26 separate charges, which include unlawful assembly, intimidation, wilful damage, and unlawfully carrying off

a young man. The defendants are Robert John Spicer, aged 25, a welder (Mr .M. J. Glue), Kerry John Wildermoth, aged 19, a spring maker (Mr C. D. Eason), Robert Francis Lindsay James, aged 19, unemployed (Mr M. J. Knowles) and a youth, aged 19, who was granted interim suppression of his name. After five of the 23 prosecution witnesses had given evidence yesterday Messrs F. A. Gunn and H. A. R. Tullett, Justices of the Peace, adjourned the case to today. The four defendants have each denied separate charges of unlawfully carrying off Gary Michael Hawthorne without his consent, with intent to cause him to be con-

fined or imprisoned; damaging a dwelling in Clarence Street with intent to intimidate Mr Hawthorne; alarming Christine Anne McKean in a dwelling with intent to intimidate by acts of violence and threats; wilful damage of $BOO to Mr , Hawthorne’s car; wilful damage of $329 to a utility vehicle owned by James McArthur; and being members of an unlawful assembly in that with intent to carry out an attack on a property and occupants at 112 Olliviers Road, .they caused neighbours to fear that they would use violence against persons or property in the neighbourhood.

Wildermoth also faces charges of assaulting Yvonne Anne Arrowsmith, and wilful damage of $421 to a television set owned by Miss Arrowsmith. The charges relate to January 27. In evidence yesterday Mr Hawthorne outlined events leading up to the alleged offences, saying he and a friend, Ronny Brunt, had picked up two sisters, Sharon and Coral Nicholl, whom they both knew. Sharon had been a girlfriend of his. He knew that Coral was Robert Spicer's wife. The two stayed with them overnight. The witness said he returned to his own fiat next

day, January 26, and went to bed about 4 p.m. That evening he answered a knock at the door and found Spicer and Wildermoth there. He was pushed against a wall. Spicer asked where his wife and Sharon were. He was being held by the hair, and around, the neck. He heard glass being broken and a door kicked in, and six or seven other persons entered the house.

Mr Hawthorne said he was then forced to leave the house by Spicer, who held his hair. He was taken to a car and Spicer said he wanted to know where the girls were “and quick.” Mr Hawthorne suggested the last address he had seen them at — Montreal Street. He gave evidence of being driven to several addresses during the search, and being held by the hair by Spicer when out of the car and calling at the various places. Wildermoth punched him in the head during the car journety to the first house. After the last house they called at, he had a cloth or sack placed over his head in the car and they drove to Spicer’s place. The mask was taken off there.

Inside, Spicer said he would be kept there until Coral "turned up.” About 4 a.m. he told them they would get into more

trouble the longer they kept him. They agreed to ilet him go but told him to return by 4 p.m. "with the girls or without them.”

Arriving home between 4 and 6 a.m. he found the windows of his car broken and a door kicked in. Windows of the house were also broken and doors damaged. To Mr Glue the witness said the meeting with the girls had been pre-arranged by Ronnie Brunt. Mr Brunt had asked Coral to stay. To Mr Halls the witness said the first time he had seen his client during the incident .was when they were at Spicer’s place. The girl occupants of a flat in Montreal Street gave evidence of persons entering their flat in the early hours of January 27.

One said she recognised Robert James in the lounge. He told her if she called the police she would get a hiding. She saw one man being held by his hair.

Another girl said about five or 10 men entered her room, carrying baseball bats, a crowbar, and some robber objects. She was asked where James McArthur and Ronnie Brunt were.

Gary Hawthorne was brought into the room, and pleaded with her to tell him where they were.

She said they might be at James McArthur’s mother’s house.

She was warned that if she went to the police the same thing would happen to her. They then dragged Mr Hawthorne out, booting him on the way. She did not recognise any of the men with him.