Hotel manager assaulted

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 3

Hotel manager assaulted

A man who was disturbed by the night manager of the Chateau Regency in the kitchen. area at >4.30 a.m. on August 6 was convicted by Judge Paterson in the District Court yesterday on charges of unlawfully entering the hotel, in Deans Avenue, with intent to commit a crime; and assaulting the night manager, Paul Charles de Joux. The defendant, Mark Huia Bain, aged 20, unemployed, was remanded in custody to December'4 for sentence on both charges. A further charge of resisting Senior-Sergeant A. M. Andrews at the Central Police Station after 'his arrest on the other charges was dismissed. The Judge accepted submissions by counsel (Mr M. F, Knowles) that there was doubt as to his intent to resist. The defendant admitted the charge of unlawfully! entering the hotel with intent to commit burglary but! denied the assault charge. i Sergeant J. E. Dwyer prosecuted. Finding the latter charge proved, the Judge said that after being surprised by Mr de Joux in the kitchen area the defendant nicked up a weapon, “verv likely a hook of some sort,” and swung it down near Mr de Joux’s face. Mr de Joux. who had boxing experience, avoided the [blow and attempted to reach for a wooden panel but stopped and the defendant made off. The Judge said there was undoubtedly an assault, which could have had dangerous consequences. Victor Tarawa, aged 21. (Mr Knowles) who appeared for sentence on a joint charge with Bain of entering the hotel with intent to commit burglary, was sentenced to six months iail, to be served concurrently with a present jail term.