Two charged after stabbing incident

Press, 25 February 1983, Page 4

Two charged after stabbing incident

Two persons facing charges relating to a stabbing incident in a Peterborough Street house on Tuesday appeared before Judge Bradford in the District Court yesterday. Desmond Wayne Macdonald. aged 29. unemployed (also known as Sybil Jayne Damon), is charged that with intent to cause grievous bodily harm he wounded Gina Parata. No plea was entered and Macdonald was remanded in custody to March 3. An application for bail, made by a duty solicitor (Mr N. J. Porter), in chambers, was opposed by Sergeant M. South. Gordon Andrew Billings, aged 29. who was represented by a duty solicitor. Mr W. F. Morgan, is charged with suppressing evidence. He was remanded on bail of $l5OO to March 3 and ordered to report daily to the police. It is alleged that knowing Sybil Jayne Damon had committed a crime of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Billings actively suppressed evidence in order to enable Damon to avoid arrest.

Billings did not plead to the charge. JURY TRIAL A salesman facing a charge of fraud, involving $3OOO. alleged to have been committed six years ago. elected trial by jurv. the defendant, at the request of counsel (Mr P. R. Rutledge) was granted continued interim suppression of his name. He was remanded to April 29 for the taking of depositions. The defendant is charged that with intent to defraud he obtained $3OOO from Motor Trade Finance. Ltd. by falsely representing that a’1976 van existed and that it was his own free and unencumbered propertv. PROBATION An unemployed office assistant earlier convicted on 16 charges of false pretence, involving $lOB2. was put on probation for 12 months when she appeared for sentence. Gaylene Mary Wright, aged 19 (Mr J. J. BrandtsGiesen) was ordered to pay half this amount in compensation. and to place her finances under the control of

the probation officer. Wright committed the offences between September and November last year. She had used a number of worthless cheques, on her own account, to obtain accommodation and food for herself and hetboyfriend. The offences had been committed with the encouragement of a boyfriend, from whom Wright, a first offender, had since parted, said Mr Brandts-Giesen. CHARGES DENIED

A youth, facing charges of theft, burglary, and driving while disqualified, denied the alleged offences. William Burke Phillips, aged 17. unemployed, was remanded to March 25 for a defended hearing. It is alleged that he stole a telephone technician's briefcase and tools, valued at $lOOO. the property of the Post Office, on February 11. He is also charged with breaking into the Autolodge Motor Inn. in Papanui Road, stealing a bottle of bacardi from the premises, and driving while disqualified.

These offences are said to have taken place on February 17.