Callers threaten to kill Waitemata Mayor

Press, 22 October 1983, Page 9

Callers threaten to kill Waitemata Mayor

PA Auckland Anonymous telephone callers have threatened to kill the defeated mayor of Waitemata, Mr Tony Covic, and bum down his service station. The menacing calls are the latest development in the Waitemata Mayoral election and follow Mr Covic’s announcement that he may take legal action against Mayor-elect Mr Tim Shadbolt. Mr Covic’s son, Steve, who is manager of Covic Motors, Ltd, said two anonymous callers had threatened to kill his father and “bum down” the business if legal proceedings went ahead.

He could not say whether the proceedings related to Mr Shadbolt. “The guys said if Dad didn’t bow out they’d bum the place down. One threatened to kill him. As far as I’m concerned these people are just spineless bandits. If they want a war we’ll fight them,” he said. Mr Covic, jun., said the police had been called in after the threats were made and now telephone calls to the business were being recorded. Mr Shadbolt said he was saddened by the threats and has pleaded for people to “calm down.” Political opponents of Mr Shadbolt say they are not

involved in any plans to lodge an electoral petition to challenge his election. A move by Mr Shadbolt to have defamation writs against him struck out has been deferred in the High Court.

He faces a defamation action from the council and the possibility of personal litigation by Mr Covic. An application by Mr Shadbolt for a motion to strike out the council’s statement of claim has been lodged with the Court but a hearing date has yet to be fixed.

The new Mayor and council will be officially sworn in on Thursday. Earlier report, page 6