Snowman went up in flames

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 41

Snowman went up in flames

PA Wellington The snowman went up in flames at a fancy dress ball at the Greytown Rugby Club, and his best friend ended up in court, charged with deliberately setting fire to him. Andrew Holmes, of Greytown. told the District Court at Wellington: "I was wearing overalls with cottonwool sewn on them. I had a pillowcase over my head with two holes in it. I was a snowman." During the evening, he went over to his friend. Brent Morris, "to say hello and ask how the do was. ■‘Brent set me alight. I did

not actually see him do il. but I looked down, and I was on fire — my left side - and I saw that Brent had a cigarette lighter in his hand." Asked by the Crown prosecutor. Mr Justin Smith. "Did you see what he was doing after you were set on fire?" Mr Holmes replied; "No. I did not really. I was trying to put myself out:" How did you try to put the fire out? — Pressed with my hands. What happened when you did that? — I think it was the worst thing I could have done because the air got underneath it and I went up

in flames. Mr Holmes said that people tried to put the flames out and then removed his overalls. "I got dragged into tiie showers in the rugby club." he said. Mr Holmes said that an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital, where he remained for five weeks. He was an out-patient for two weeks after that. Mr Holmes told the court that he and Brent Morris, aged 22. a plumber, of Greytown. regarded themselves as "best mates." Morris, who denied a

charge of injuring Mr Holmes, told the court. "All I know about this incident is that I was told by Barry Cole that 1 was lighting a smoke with a lighter and I caught Andrew's arm. "Andrew and 1 have been the best of mates for a long time. I would have no intention of doing any harm to him. "If the fire was caused when I lit my smoke I certainly did not do it deliberately." The jury acquitted Morris after 15 minutes deliberation.