Begging conviction for American

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 4

Begging conviction for American

An American logger, who pleaded guilty to a charge of being idle and disorderly in that he begged alms in Cathedral Square, was convicted and discharged by Judge K. W. Frampton in the District Court yesterday. Philip Eugene Siemion, aged 33, told the Judge that 'although he had pleaded guilty he did not think that begging was a proper descrintion of the offence. “I just like to play the fiddle wherever I go,” he said. Sergeant G. C. Jones said the defendant had been playing a violin in Cathedral Square and that members of the public had been seen to drop coins into an open violin case at his feet. There was $12.48 in the case. x Sergeant Jones said that the defendant, who had been in New Zealand for six months, said he did not know a permit was necessary before he could play music in the Square. Siemion told the Judge that he came to Christchurch specifically for the Canterbury Folk Festival. THEFT OF FLUTE

Another defendant was convicted and fined $lOO on a charge of stealing a flute valued at $205.

Tyrone Ronald Sutherland, aged 19, an unemployed painter, admitted stealing the flute from a Hastings music shop on March 25. Sergeant Jones said while in the music shop the defendant had picked a flute off a shelf and had put it in a Shoulder bag. When apprehended Sutherland said he had taken the

flute which he felt like playing on his travels. The flute was recovered but without the mouthpiece for which $5O compensation was sought, said Sergeant Jones.

At the time of his arrest the defendant had $292 in his possession, he said. The Judge said it was the defendant’s second appearance in the court on a theft charge within four iveeks. In imposing • the fine the Judge ordered that the fine and the $5O in compensation be paid immediately, in default of which Sutherland would spend six weeks in prison. THEFT CHARGE A manager charged with stealing cash and cheques, to a total value of $4175, was remanded to April 23. The defendant, who on the application of counsel (Mr G. H. Mahon) was. granted interim suppression of his name, was allowed bail of $l5OO. He did not plead. Mr Mahon said the charge would be defended. The alleged offence took place between March 29 and 30, and the money said to have been stolen belonged to the defendant’s employer. - ASSAULT CHARGES An unemployed man who appeared on four charges of assault and of being a member of an unlawful assembly was remanded in custody to May 22 for the taking of depositions. He is Frenardo Bof Patunai, aged 18. He is charged with assaulting Johnnie Paitaihonga Moeau and Robert Francis Lindsay James, and with assaulting both men with intent to injure them. He is also charged with taking part in a riot in that he was part of an unlawful assembly in Cathedral Square, which had begun to disturb the peace tumultuously.

All of the alleged offences were said to have occurred on March 11. Bail was opposed by Ser-< geant G. C. Jones. OBSTRUCTION CHARGE An unemployed man and a housewife charged jointly with attempting to obstruct the course of justice were further remanded on bail to April 23. They are Albert Kaye, aged 41, and Christine Sue-Ann Dowie, aged 19. It is alleged that they attempted to obstruct the course of justice by washing the clothes of Warren John Corkin and Raymond Brem* ner Fryer. Corkin and Fryer face a joint charge of murdering George Frank Carrodus, an Addington hairdresser, in late February. The Judge was told that a date for the taking of depositions for Kaye and Downie will be set on April 23 WEAPON CHARGE On a charge of unlawfully possessing an offensive weapon—a stiletto knife—on the Main North Road at Belfast on April 4, Alfred Hotu, aged 20, a labourer, was remanded without plea to April 16. Hotu is also charged with wilfully damaging a Police Department van on the same date. Bail was allowed. TWELVE CHARGES No pleas were entered by a prison inmate when he ap« peared on 12 charges. Keremihana Hirani aged 25, was remanded in custody to April 16. He faces seven charges of breaking and entering, three of receiving, one of theft* and one of supplying an undercover constable with cannabis resin—a clasps Bcontrolled drug. All 12 alleged offences are said to have been committed between June and August last year.