Smoke bomb a ‘protest’

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 5

Smoke bomb a ‘protest’

A man who threw an ignited smoke canister at the yard at the Central Police Station a week ago told the police that it was meant as a protest in support of Neil Roberts who died while attempting to blow up the Wanganui Computer Centre, said Detective Sergeant J. W. Lyall in the District Court yesterday. John David Bridges, aged 30. a sound technician, admitted unlawfully possessing a smoke canister. He was convicted by Judge Bradford who remanded him in custody to December 9 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Lyall said that at 4 p.m. on November 24 the defendant and an associate had ridden a motor-cycle to a position opposite the police station yard. Bridges had reached inside his jacket, pulled out the canister which he lit with a cigarette lighter, threw it at the police yard, and immediately rode off. The missile hit the fence and rolled on to the road. Traffic in the . area was heavy at the time and was disrupted by the thick smoke. The smoking canister was removed from the road by a passer-by so that the' traffic could proceed, •said Sergeant Lyall. When ignited such a device became very hot and could burn anyone touching it, he said. Bridges had received third degree burns to his hand. Bridges said he had borrowed the motor-cycle from a friend. He did not see where the canister landed and said his intention was to frighten the police, said Sergeant Lyall. Counsel (Mr P. M. James) in seeking bail said the canister only generated smoke; it was not an incendiary or explosive device. ASSAULT CHARGES Two men charged that with intent to injure they assaulted Simone Gafa, and with intentionally damaging the property of Kevin Bruce Trevella on November 20, were remanded to December 9.

They are Nafasao Faafoi, aged 22, a welder, and Faaliga Toomalatai, aged 24, a labourer. Neither defendant pleaded to the charges. Each was allowed bail of $3OOO. Sergeant Lyall said that he had been instructed not to oppose bail for what he described as an alleged “retribution” assault. The previous afternoon Simone Gafa, aged 24, a battery assembler, was charged that with reckless disregard for the safety of others he caused grievous bodily harm to Theodore . Nauer on November 20. Gafa was remanded on bail to January 18 for the taking of depositions. The prosecuting officer said that in an alleged brief altercation the complainant lost an eye. CUSTODY REMAND Three unemployed young men found by police sleeping with two girls from the Kingslea Girls’ Home in an unoccupied flat in Montreal Street said they needed somewhere to sleep, said Sergeant Lyall. Duane Mark Shaw, aged 18, Daniel Raymond Tindall, aged 19, and Raymond Luke Clayton, aged 23, who admitted being found without reasonable excuse at the flat early yesterday morning, were each convicted and remanded in custody to' December 9 for probation reports and sentence. Sergeant Lyall said that police went to the flat after receiving information about five persons having been seen to enter the flat unlawfully. None of the defendants knew whose property the flat was. The duty solicitor (Mr K. J. Grave), said that Clayton, who had been drunk, was told of the flat by a friend. Shaw had gone along at the invitation of Clayton while Tindall, also drunk, found the flat independantly. The Judge said that he was remanding the trio in custody in view of their apparent lack of accommodation.