Two 'kicked after crash’

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 6

Two 'kicked after crash’

PA Auckland A man who kicked two cyclists as they lay injured after <a road accident was promised a prison sentence when he was convicted yes- . terday of assault. In the District Court at Otahuhu, Lance Terini Hyland, aged 21, of Palmerston North, denied- assaulting Miles Patrick Yaxley and • Walter ; ' Grant Kingsford on March 30. '

The .Court was told that Hyland stood on Mr Yaxley’s broken leg and kicked the other’ cyclist in the. head after they were struck .from behind by a car. The/ accident happened near.Wiri as Messrs Yaxley and Kingsford were travel-

ling north. Mr Yaxley said he was partly paralysed after the accident, but could see his friend sitting up in the road with blood “pouring off him.” Hyland was a passenger in the car that hit them.

Mr Yaxley said he had blood streaming from his injuries and two girls tried to help him. When Hyland approached, one of the girls said, “Go away, this man has a broken leg.” Hyland then stepped on Mr Yaxley’s broken leg. Mr Yaxley said he also suffered abrasions, deep bruising, and had 17 stitches. Mr Kingsford said he saw Hyland stand on Mr Yaxley’s leg and kick him.:His own injuries were a cut to the

head, a badly strained back, and bruising. Hyland said he was wearing jandals when he kicked one of fhe cyclists in. the leg about four times. The kicks were not hard, more like taps. , • He could not recall . standing on one man’s leg or kicking another injured man in the head. He did not have a good) memory of the evening because he had had a “fair bit to drink.”

Judge Blackwood, convicting Hyland on the two charges of assault, said he had acted like a monster. He would be jailed — it was just a matter of how long. He remanded Hyland in custody to June -28 for a report and sentence. ..< . ■ , -..