Robbery, assault charges denied

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 3

Robbery, assault charges denied

Two men in the District Court yesterday were committed to the High Court for trial on joint charges of robbery, and assault with intent to injure. F The defendants were Edward Kura Apirana, aged 27, a labourer, and Shane George Whittaker, aged 18, unemployed. I After hearing statements or depositions of evidence of five prosecution witnesses I Messrs C. A. Pilgrim and D. |F. Prestney, Justices of the Peace, held there was sufficient evidence to commit the defendants for trial on both charges. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and elected trial bv jury on the charges that, i jointlv and with others, they ! robbed Nigel Blackett of $137; and that they assaulted Mr Blackett with intent to injure him, on November 14. Prosecution evidence was given that Mr Blackett answered a knock at his door at 2 a.m. on November 14 and heard Whittaker call out. He knew him from a party two nights before. Whittaker entered with a person unknown to Mr Blackett and the other person began searching in Mr Blackett’s bedroom. Whittaker then grabbed Mr Blackett’s hair, pulled him down and knocked him about with an “assortment of blows,” and asked him if he had any money or drugs. Mr Blackett said he did not. Whittaker also threw a drawer at Mr Blackett, inflicting a wound to his temple which required 12, stitches. While he was being attacked, he heard a loud noise outside and then Apirani appeared with another person, and took one of Mr Blackett’s lino knives and threatened him with it. Inspector P. P. Brady then arrived, having been attracted by the noise in the house and Mr Blackett’s calls for help. The officer had been investigating a complaint of a prowler in the street. He saw Apirana punch Mr Blackett in the face, and Whittaker also holding on to Mr Blackett and apparently trying to force him to the floor. The inspector saw Whittaker appear to put something ion a bed, and he found this Ito be a tinfoil wrapping, I apparently containing cannabis resin.