Beating evidence incenses

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 9

Beating evidence incenses

PA Auckland Facts read in the District Court at Auckland yesterday about a child beating so incensed a man that he stood in the public gallery and challenged the Judge. As Judge A. Deobhakta was considering remand for Tai Housea, aged 21, an unemployed labourer, of Ponsonby, a grey-haired man stood and shouted: “How could you possibly consider releasing that man? It’s disgusting to even think of it.” He was escorted from the Court. Housea had admitted that

on Wednesday, having control of a child, aged six months, he wilfully illtreated him in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering. Sergeant H. Eaton said that about 11.15 a.m. Housea was at home with his de facto wife and baby son. The baby began crying and Housea told him to shut up. The crying continued and Housea slapped the baby several times to try to make him stop. The baby was still crying so Housea put him on a bed and pushed a pillow over his

head. When the crying persisted, Housea picked up a fishing rod and hit the baby about 10 times on the buttocks. The baby grew tired and stopped crying. Later, he started crying again, and Housea picked him up by the arm and slapped him again. He then left. Housea told police that he had been hitting the baby for some time because the baby cried when he was in a bad mood. He was sober at the time of the offence. The Judge remanded Housea in custody for a

probation and psychiatric report and sentence on December 3.