'M.P. stabbed in hearing bid9

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 4

'M.P. stabbed in hearing bid 9

PA Auckland A pensioner, aged 63, told the police he had stabbed the member of Parliament for Helensville (Mr D. M. J. Jones) so he could appear in court and expose corruption in the judicial system, the District Court at Henderson heard.

Before Judge Maxwell at a depositions hearing was Ambrose Tindal of Dairy Flat, who was charged with wounding Mr Jones with intent to injure. Tindal conducted his own defence.

Mr Jones said he had known the defendant for several years. He said he had corres-, ponded with Tindal from time to time over a grievance in, which the defendant felt he had been Treated unfairly. On Saturday, June 21, Mr Jones said 'he met constituents at the Massey Community House. He kept an appointment with Tindal about 11 a.m.

They had talked for about 15 or 20 minutes and had gone through correspondence that had resulted from an incident in 1972.

He said he had told Tindal he was willing to try to help him, but that they were “banging their heads against a brick wall.”

He indicated they had gone as far as they could that day and he should see other people who were waiting.

Mr Jones said Tindal placed some papers back in his bag and at the same time removed a thick stilettolike instrument saying: “Well, I am obviously not going to get any justice and this is the only way I can bring matters to a head.” Mr Jones said he got up and advanced towards the defendant to try to take the weapon from him. He raised Tindal’s hands above his head, pushed him

back against a filing cabinet, and called for help. Mr Jones said a man who had been waiting to see him took the weapon from Tindal. ! When he put his hands by his side, Mr Jones said, he discovered he was feeling wet on his left side. This was his first indication that he had been injured in the struggle. He had been injured under his left armpit and was, admitted to Auckland Hospi-i tai for treatment. He was discharged a few days later. I

, Cross-examined by Tindal,! Mr Jones said the defendant < i had shown him a lot of cori respondence arising from, a . ■ traffic offence notice issued : in 1972. i ' Paul Francis . Silvester, al :• surgical registrar at Auck-I: ; land Hospital, said he had ' attended Mr Jones at the . ; hospital on June 21. : Fie found a superficial ’ graze on his left forearm 1 ■ and a puncture wound over i ja fold of muscle in the back ' •iof his armpit. r ;l Albert Hamilton Holloway 11 I said he had an appointment';

Ito see Mr Jones on the day of the incident. When he arrived, Mr • Jones was talking to another i man so he waited in a back room. ; He said he heard a lot of Inoise coming from the interview room, and then Mr Jones began calling for help. He went into the room with another man who had been waiting and saw an elderly man, identified as Tindal, with a stiletto-like weapon in his hand. He took the instrument from Tindal and called the police.

Mr Holloway said he ' I heard the defendant remark' | ■lto Mr Jones: “Now you will; J ihave to hear me in court.” Detective Inspector B. ■Mathews, of the Auckland; 1 ' C. 1.8., said -he interviewed, •Tindal on June 21. . I i Tindal told him he wanted > ( |the reasons he had stabbed: Mr Jones to be brought upj ( in court and it would put;< him in an awful predicament;, if charges were not brought , against him. _ ; t I The' defendant had said he! s • stabbed Mr Jones because he j had to do something that;, would ensure his appearance | s in court to state his case. ; C He said Mr Jones had admitted evidence of corrup- j tion against members of the c judiciary, ■ and he wanted \ him in bourt. is He told Mr-Mathews he if 'had put the • weapon in his|l ‘bag before going to see Mrir i Jones, “just in case he had I Ito use it” if Air Jones gave - ihim no hope of “correcting! I the corruption.” In a state-1 'merit to the police. Tindall said he had not wanted to; kill Mr Jones. He said he I wanted him in the witness! box and “he was no good to me dead.” > Judge Maxwell committed; Tindal for trial in the High; Court at Auckland on September 12. 0 i He declined an application H 1 for bail. ’