Demonstrators found not guilty by jury

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 14

Demonstrators found not guilty by jury

PA ~ Gisborne Eleven anti-tour demonstrator! have been found not guilty of unlawful assembly by a jury to , the District Court at Gisborne. .The verdict, after a retire- *> ment of only. one hour and three-quarters; ended a case that has occupied the court for a month. , • The: two-week District Court trial came from a disturbance outside the opening match Of the; Springbok rugby tour on July'22, when demonstrators stormed the Gisborne Rugby Park fence in a battle with the police and rugby supporters. Originally charged with rioting, the 11 accused, nine of whom came from Auckland, one from Christchurch and one from Gisborne, had the charges reduced by Judge Richardson before the trial to unlawful assembly. Among the accused were several of the leading figures in the protest movement: from Christchurch: Riaz Mohammad Sharif, aged 21, a student; frpttf Gisborne, Hone Ngata, aged 33, a social worker, from Auckland, Mark Richard Scott, aged 25,

a builder, Brendon Damion Corbett, aged 25, a gardener, Richard James Alexander r Cuthbert, aged 30, a voluntary worker, Evonne.-Marie Edna Cuthbert, aged 30, a school teacher, Kevin Grant Hague,, aged 21, a student, ; >: Rosemary Laetitia Hollands, aged 31, a librarian, Mereana

Pango Pitman, aged 29, r a professional protester, - Timothy ( Richard Shadbolt, aged 34, a concrete worker,;, and Donna Lyn Awatere,, aged 32, occupation unknown. - Corbett and Hague were also found riot guilty of as-, saulting a policeman during the same incident.;