Woman jailed for assault, theft from elderly man

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 5

Woman jailed for assault, theft from elderly man

A woman, aged 19, cbn-| victed on charges of asssultf with intent to injure and I theft, was sent to prison for! 12 months by Judge Fraser! when she appeared for sentence in the District Court yesterday. Winifred Tuwai Kanohi, unemployed, admitted that with intent to injure she assaulted Arthur Henry Henderson, and that she also stole $B5 from the complainant. Both offences took place on March 1. Originally set down for a; defended hearing yesterday! Kanohi changed her mind and pleaded gulty to both; charges. Sergeant K. T. Boyle said; at 9.30 p.m. on March 1, the! defendant and the complainant were in a house drinking when an argument developed. Kanohi had hit Mr Henderson, aged 61, a pensioner, on the head with a bottle and had twice kicked him. Henderson had put his

[wallet containing $B5 on the [table while he cleaned the [blood off himself, said Sergeant Boyle. Counsel (Mr N. P. Chapman) said that Kanohi... had acted out. of provocation in the assault. The complainant was well known to the defendant and on the occasion of the assault had made indecent suggestions to Kanohi. ' The defendant had “simply lost her temper,” but later realised she should not have: hit Mr Henderson the way she did. ' She had spent most of the money on the child of a friend living at the same house. The Judge said the charges were serious and were committed while the defendant was on probation.

s; “You : have -at -propensity;' ■ ‘ for ' dishonesty ■ and there, ■'have been occasions wfeeh! I violence 'was involved,’'' hei isaid. - ’ ! ASSAULT ADMITTED . A man, aged 25, convicted! t of assaulting a man, aged ; 71, did so out of self- ; defence.- said counsel (Mr D. : I. Jones). Michael, John Prince, unemployed, who admitted assaulting Gilbert Hawke bn October 18, was fined $lOO. “In the"face, of the facts sthis appeared to be a serious assault,” the Judge told the defendant. I Sergeant G. C. Jones said; the complainant had gone' down the stairs at the! boarding house where the! defendant lived to tell him; to stop making a noise. Thej time was 3.20 a.rh. I

t As a result Prince had punched the, complainant 'three times with his closed fist. The' complainant, who was temporarily knocked out. had suffered cuts and bruises to his face.

In explanation to the police Prince had said: '‘l was just so bloody, wild. It' had been building up for some time."

Counsel (Mr Jones) said at the time Prince, who was under the influence of drink, was not aware that-.the complainant was aged 71.

Prince, felt at one .stage that the complainant was ■ about to strike him and so lhe lashed out in said Mr Jones.

I It was admitted* thait perhaps Prince!, had used .'<exi ces'sive- fprce in;.,tfie r assault, Mr Jones. . _ ..4 y■ ■ .