P.D. imposed for assault on constable

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 6

P.D. imposed for assault on constable

A man who almost throttled a policeman called to a domestic disturbance by wrapping a dog’s choke chain around his neck was sentenced to periodic detention for five months by Judge Bisphan in the District Court yesterday. Wayne Douglas Ford, aged 36, unemployed (Mr E. J. Tait), had admitted assaulting Constable Brent Warwick Jones with the intention of obstructing him in the course of his duty, and with possessing a knife in circumstances that showed an intention to use it to commit an offence involving bodily injury. Two disturbing features in society today were domestic violence and the dangers police must face when going about their duties, said the Judge. He told Ford, he was within a “hair’s breadth” of going to prison. The offence was a serious matter, he said. In addition to periodic detention, Ford was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to take treatment for his alcohol problem. After a woman had told him she wanted him to leave because he was violent towards her, Ford had come out of the house and began abusing the police. Ford had gone to the rear of the section and had reappeared with a large dog on a choke chain. Ford had made threatening gestures with a knife at the constable while encouraging the dog to attack him. A blow from a baton had knocked the knife from Ford’s hand. He had then removed the choke chain from the dog, wrapped it around the constable’s neck, and began choking him. The constable had almost lost consciousness, had difficulty breathing for a period after, and had gone off duty. Ford had been drinking prior to the incident but was not drunk, the court was told. Mr Tait said his client had no recollection of events of the night following his return home from a hotel where he had consumed 14 jugs of beer. The defendant had had an alcohol problem for the last 15 to 20 years. Ford’s de facto wife said no instructions had been given to the dog at any stage during the evening. Neither constable had suffered any injury from the dog, said Mr Tait. INDECENCY CHARGE A schoolteacher charged with indecently assaulting a girl, aged 15, on June 25, was remanded on bail of 1500 to July 11. On the application of counsel (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon), the defendant was granted interim suppression of his name. Mr Fitzgibbon said the alleged offence did not involve one of the defendant’s pupils. He envisaged that a not guilty plea would be entered, said Mr Fitzgibbon. While the defendant was on remand a psychiatric report will be prepared on him. FATALITY CHARGES Charges relating to a fatal accident in Linwood Avenue on December 2, last year, were denied by a sewing machine technician. Philip Bruce Graham, aged 28, (Mr M. J. Glue), was remanded at large to July 22 for a defended hearing. He is charged with causing the death of Christopher Brent Paterson by carelessly using a car while driving at a speed in excess of 50k/mh, causing bodily

injury to Paterson, and causing his death, by carelessly using a car on Linwood Avenue. DEPOSITIONS A traffic operator facing three charges of selling cannabis to a person over the age of 18, elected trial by jury. Vitas Paul Maciulaitis, aged 24 (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon), is charged with committing the offences on December 1, 3 and 14, last year. He was remanded on bail to August 24 for the taking of depositions. DRUG CHARGES An unemployed man charged with possessing Methedrin which is a class B controlled drug, and with possessing a needle and syringe for the purpose of committing an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act was remanded to July 11. Billy Asi, aged 25, is charged with committing the offences on June 26. He was allowed bail of $2OOO. 14 CHARGES A man facing a total of 14 charges — eight of them involving the theft of cash and bank books totalling $520, from houses at Burnham and Wigram was remanded without plea to June 29. Paul Carle Hunter, aged 21, unemployed (Mr D. J. Taffs), was allowed bail of $l5OO. He is also charged with wilfully trespassing at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Wigram, burgling a house on the base, and one charge of false pretence. The defendant is charged with committing the offences in the last three months. FURTHER REMAND An unemployed man facing two charges of receiving and one of theft, was further remanded in custody without plea to July 4. Wayne Robert William Graham, aged 29, (Mr D. J. Taffs), is charged with receiving 60 English postal orders, valued at $279, two mini stereo units, valued at $2OOO, and with stealing four wheel assemblies, valued at $Bl2. The defendant is charged with committing the offences between April 29 and June 14. BURGLARY CHARGE An unemployed man charged with burgling the Colombo Street premises of Taylor Dry Cleaners on March 26 was remanded on bail of $2OOO to July 11. He is Cyril Douglas Bain, aged 25, who did not plead.