Riot-charge trial

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 5

Riot-charge trial

Lionel Apirana Skinner, aged 25, a solo parent, was committed to the High Court for trial after the hearing of depositions in, the District Court yesterday. He is char-! ged with taking part in aj riot in Cathedral Square on! March 11. The riot allegedly broke out as the result- of rivalry between Christchurch gangs. The prosecutor (Sergeant W. J. McCormick) asked that the public be excluded from a screening of a film of the incident, to stop the possibility of more gang violence. An order was granted prohibiting publication of all evidence shown in the film. Four witnesses testified that the public had been disturbed “tumultuously” by the riot. The evidence was heard by two Justices of the Peace, Messrs R. M. Naysmith and V. C. Empson. Skinner had allegedly told the police that he had been walking through the Square when the fight started. He had not been involved in it, but said that he would have given the gang members a hand if they had needed it. Skinner (Mr E. Bedo), under examination, denied having told the police that he would have joined in the

fight. He signed the police statement because he was “in a hurry to get home.” Mr Bedo submitted that there was no case to answer. Skinner had not been in the Square with “common intent” —with intent to take part in the fight. Neither had he admitted taking part in the fight, nor wanting to take part. Skinner was released on bail, pending his trial.