Protected witnesses to appear

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 7

Protected witnesses to appear

NZPA London Two key witnesses in the “Mr Asia” drugs-murder case will be brought out of hiding to give evidence at a preliminary court hearing. The two women, Julie Hut and Barbara Pilkington, have been guarded around the clock in a “safe house” maintained by the Lancashire police since late last October. Hue, the girlfriend of the murdered Auckland drugs boss, Martin Johnstone, identified his mutilated body. She had been on holiday in Spain with Pilkington when Johnstone was murdered and his body, with the hands severed, was dumped naked in a flooded quarry. The 1 two wete , named yesterday in a list of 17 witnesses to be called by a former Auckland resident, Andrew Maher, aged 26, at the committal proceedings which start on May 19. Maher, a Briton, lived with Pilkington before his arrest and the. couple have a young child, who is with his mother under police protection. . ■ ; . .

Charged with murdering Johnstone, with conspiring to murder him, and with conspiring against Britain’s drug laws, Maher is the only one of the 12 accused to indicate so far his intentions of contesting the committal and calling'witnesses; Also listed . among thfe. 17 is,, Thomas Kirby, father of another of the defendants.