‘Prison stabbing threat led to escape’

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 5

‘Prison stabbing threat led to escape’

A man, who escaped from Rolleston Prison on January 3. had done so because he had been threatened with stabbing, and there had been two previous stabbing incidents in the prison within a two month period, said Mr M. J. Glue in the District Court yesterday. He represented Gregory Wayne Armishaw, aged 23. and Philip Alexander Hardy, aged 23, both unemployed, who appeared for sentence on a charge against each of escaping from the prison, and for three further offences committed while they were at liberty. Judge Fogarty sentenced each to additional terms of five months imprisonment on the charges.

The other offences after their escape were the unlawful taking of a utility vehicle in Ashburton, and burgling of a shop in Dunsandel from which clothing, boots and foodstuffs were stolen, and of a bach at Lake Lyndon from which bedding was taken. Mr Glue, in submissions in mitigation of penalty, said the reasons for Armishaw’s escape were contained in his probation report and formed the principal part of his submissions. Armishaw had said he escaped from the prison because he was threatened with stabbing and there had been two previous instances of stabbing at Rolleston Prison within a period of two months. A friend of his was the victim of the second stabbing.

A cell mate who had reported the matter to authorities had been victimised by having his stereo smashed, Mr Glue said.

He said allegations of this kind were not lightly made, and were matters which must be considered very carefully. To the best of his ability he had checked the allegations and they appeared to be well founded.

He submitted that this background put Armishaw’s offence of escaping in a different light. He was genuinely fearful for what could happen to him and decided to

‘remove himself from the institution." Hardy, who was a friend of Armishaw, was not directly threatened but felt some apprehension about the situation which had become a ’heavy” one. He accompanied his friend in escaping. The other offences were committed principally for survival reasons while they were at large. $lOOO FINE

A man. aged 43, who admitted twice having sexual intercourse with a girl, aged 14. was fined $lOOO. “You are an adolescent in many ways," the Judge told the defendant, whose name was suppressed at the request of counsel (Mr G. E. Langham).

The Court was told on Wednesday that the girl, who is now a State ward, was due to have a baby next month. Mr Langham said the man and girl were both outcasts in their families and had sought “genuine” affection from each other. MEN FOILED

An attempt by two men to break into the Winchester Post Office safe with oxyacetylene torches was foiled by a passing police patrol, the Court heard.

Stephen Frank Cowan, aged 28, a sickness beneficiary, admitted breaking into the post office and trying to crack the safe. The prosecutor (Detective Sergeant C. A. MacLeod) said that about 4.15 a.m. on January 12, 1982, a Temuka police patrol spotted two men escaping from a post office window. The two men were found about seven hours later, several kilometres from the post office.

Oxy-acetylene torches and oxygen bottles were found inside. The safe was damaged but not completely broken into, said Mr MacLeod. Police later discovered that a third man had been acting as “lookout”' outside and kept in touch by twoway radio. Counsel (Mr D. J. Taffs)

said that Cowan had cooperated with the police and was going to appear as a Crown witness against the other accused later in Timaru. Mr Taffs said that Cowan had five previous burglary convictions but had not appeared in court since his release from prison in 1978..

Cowan was convicted and remanded for sentence and probation report on February 25. The Judge granted bail of $lOOO. CANNABIS PLANTS

A woman caught on an isolated stretch of Motunau Beach transferring cannabis plants from a hidden box to a chilly bin was yesterday fined a total of $350 on three charges. Linda Jane Haines, aged 24. had previously admitted two charges of cultivation and one of possession of cannabis.

The other charge of cultivation related to cannabis plants found at the defendant’s flat in Forfar Street.

An accomplice. Christopher Anker, aged 29. has pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of cultivation at Motunau Beach. SHIP BREAK-INS

A youth who admitted breaking into two moored ships in Akaroa and the Akaroa Service Station was sentenced to six months residential periodic detention. Carl Andrew Baker, aged 17, was also ordered to pay restitution of $659 for his share of property stolen and damage caused when breaking into the Irish Mist on January 14. Counsel (Miss J. McArtney) said that Baker’s financial predicament and lack of employment at the time was at the core of his offence.

However, he had since got a regular job.

The defendant and a friend were stranded in Akaroa after the tyre on their motorcycle punctured. The two took a dinghy from Akaroa Wharf and rowed out to the two boats. They later broke into the service station looking for

tools and materials to repair the puncture. BAIL REFUSED Two brothers. Rochford and > Hudson Hill, who appeared on a total of 24 charges were categorically refused bail by the Judge and remanded in custody until next week.

Hudson Hill, aged 20. unemployed. denied six charges, including resisting arrest, assault, unlawful assembly and a joint charge with Rochford Hill and Joseph Governor Pahau of robbery. Rochford Hill, aged 23. a railways tracklayer, entered no plea to 18 charges including possession and dangerous use of a .22 calibre rifle, assault, wilful damage and unlawful assembly. The two were remanded to various dates'for depositions and hearings. Pahau, aged 19. a labourer, was remanded in custody on similar charges until Februarv 18.