Charges of robbery; assault on policemen

Press, 12 March 1983, Page 4

Charges of robbery; assault on policemen

Jurisdiction was declined and a man convicted of armed robbery, theft, and two charges of burglary, was committed in custody to the High Court for sentence at a date to be fixed when he appeared before Judge Frampton in the District Court yesterday.

He is Michael John Walker, aged 23 (Mr W. Rosenberg) who, on charges of assaulting Constable Alexander Waddell Bennie and Constable Sydney Lee Burt, with the intention of helping Michael Moananui escape from lawful custody, was remanded in custody to May 11 for the taking of depositions.

Walker admitted a charge that being armed with a knife he robbed Sandra Phiannon Jones of a radiocassette player, a walkie cassette, a denim jacket, and jewellery to a total value of ?1230, on February 18. He also admitted burgling a house in Rutherford Street on February 16, and another in Radley Street on February 21, and stealing $lB4 from a Willis Street store, Wellington.

Of the armed robbery offence. Sergeant McCormick said that,the defendant went to a caravan at the Addington Motor Camp where, after a short conversation with the female occupant, he began placing certain items of property in a duffle bag. Wien the complainant attempted to stop Walker she was pushed across the room and threatened with a knife. After the defendant left the woman contacted the police.

About 4.20 p.m., the same day, police attended an unrelated incident at an address in Rutherford Street. The defendant was found there together with the radio-cassette players. The jewellery and the

denim jacket. together valued at 5500, had not been recovered, said Sergeant McCormick.

Walker admitted having burgled a house in Radley Street from which a stereo and other household items, to a total value of $1359, were taken.

This property was recovered at the defendant’s address.

Walker also told the police that he had burgled another house in Rutherford Street from which he had removed a colour television set, valued at $950.

He said he had got rid of it in a hotel in exchange for some cannabis, said Sergeant McCormick.

Leslie John Fergusson, aged 19, a labourer, charged with assaulting Constable Alexander Waddell Bennie with the intention of helping Michael Moananui escape from lawful custody, was remanded in custody, without plea to March 18.

Freando Boff Patuwai, aged 21, unemployed, who was also charged with assaulting Constable Bennie, was remanded in custody to March 18 without pleading to the charge. Patuwai (Mr S. G. Barker), pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, receiving, intentionally obstructing a policeman, and a breach of probation at Tauranga late last year.

A police summary was not available. Patuwai was convicted and remanded in custody to March 18 for a probation report and sentence. The charges relating to the assault on police officers in the escape incident at the District Court on Thursday morning were laid indictably.

Each of the three defendants appeared in the dock wearing handcuffs.