Youth remanded on stabbing charge

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 7

Youth remanded on stabbing charge

A youth who is alleged to have stabbed a woman, aged 22, in a St Albans Street op April 10, has been remanded in custody to April 21 so that a psychiatric report can be obtained. No plea was entered by Stephen James Churcher, unemployed, aged 22, who, it is alleged, with intent to injure wounded the woman. Churcher appeared before Judge F; G. Paterson in the District Court yesterday. The duty solicitor (Mr E. Bedo) sought bail opposed by Sergeant K. R. Prouting. DELIVERED LETTERS A former prison officer, who admitted delivering four letters on behalf of an inmate, was convicted and fined $25.

Alistair David Hogue, aged 30, pleaded guilty to taking four letters out of Paparua Prison on behalf of Ronald Jorgensen last September. Sergeant Prouting said the woman to whom they were

delivered had handed them to the police. Three of the envelopes did not have stamps or postmarks on them. The woman said they had been handed to her by the defendant. When spoken to by the police Hogue admitted the offence. Sergeant Prouting said Hogue said he had delivered the letters as a favour to the inmate who did not wish to have his mail censored by prison staff. One of the letters was said to be “dirty.” Hogue had admitted being aware that what he had done was a breach of the prison regulations, said Sergeant Prouting. Counsel (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon) said his client had delivered the letters for humanitarian reasons and had gained nothing from the favour.

He submitted that Hogue had already paid dearly for his actions.