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Charges withdrawn

PA Whangarei The police have withdrawn joint charges of riot brought against sqven people after disruption at the Waitangi National Marae on Waitangi Dav.'

Instead, the defendants will be charged with behaving in a riotous manner. Leave to withdraw the original charges was granted by. Messrs J. M. Cribb and R. F. Thomas. Justices of the Peace, in the District Court at Kaikohe yesterday. Making the application.

the Crown Prosecutor (Mr P. J. Smith) said there was some difficulty in establishing the necessary common purpose element required in a charge of riot to the standards laid down by the Court of Appeal. The police were satisfied a crime had been committed. Informations for the offence of behaving in a riotous manner had been issued against the defendants and summonses issued.

The dale of hearing had been fixed for June 4, when

some of the defendants were to appear on other offences arising out of the same incident, Mr Smith said. At an earlier sitting of the Court the defendants refused to recognise its jurisdiction. Not guilty pleas on the original charges had been entered on their behalf and the charges adjourned for a preliminary hearing for a jury trial. None of the defendants came forward in Court yesterday when called.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810428.2.19

Bibliographic details

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 2

Word Count
212

Charges withdrawn Press, 28 April 1981, Page 2

Charges withdrawn Press, 28 April 1981, Page 2