Dogs in tavern led to melee

Press, 24 November 1983, Page 4

Dogs in tavern led to melee

Walking into the bar of a New Brighton tavern with two large dogs on Show Day led to a man, aged 39, being charged with being a quarrelsome person on licensed premises, and resisting police. Abraham Edmonds (Mr A. Garrett) was convicted and remanded on bail in the District Court yesterday by Judge Frampton to December 8 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant G. G. Cleland said that the defendant walked into the bar with the dogs only to be told he would not be served unless he took them out.

He complied, but after being served, brought the dogs in and secured them to the table. When again told to take the dogs outside the defendant said he saw no sign to say they were not allowed. Police were called in the struggle that ensued; tables were overturned and glasses smashed. Edmonds encouraged his dogs to join in the fray and one of them bit a policeman, said Sergeant Cleland. The defendant struggled violently in the moving patrol car and jumped out dragging a police officer with him.

He offered no explanation.

Mr Garrett said it was unfortunate that his client received encouragement from some of the patrons who said they did not mind the dogs being present. SODOMY A man, aged 28, convicted of committing sodomy on a boy, aged 11, was committed in custody to the High Court for sentence next month after the Judge declined jurisdiction in the District Court.

Edward James Momo, aged 28 (Mr E. Bedo), admitted the offence, which occurred on October 15, by endorsing the charge sheet.

When apprehended by the police Momo had burst into tears saying he had never done anything like it before and was worried that people would think he was queer, said Sergeant Cleland. Sergeant Cleland said that the boy was roller skating down the Main North Road to Papanui when he met Momo at a bus stop.

During a conversation Momo asked the boy where he lived, and on being told said he lived near there and that he would walk home with him.

Near a foodstuffs factory, Momo suggested a short cut through the factory grounds. At the rear of the property the offence was committed on the boy, said Sergeant Cleland. Afterwards Momo said he would meet the boy at the same place next day and threatened to harm him if he told anyone about the incident.

The boy ran to a nearby dairy where he told the proprietor, and the police were called, Sergeant Cleland said. DRUG OFFENCE

A man found cultivating cannabis in a specially fitted-out room told police he was growing it to get enough money together to purchase a home, said Sergeant Cleland.

Mark Francis Wright, aged 23, a fitter (Mr S. C. Barker), who admitted the offence, was convicted and fined $750.

Any penalty imposed had to reflect the seriousness of what was a sophisticated operation in order to deter others, said the Judge. He said he accepted that Wright was a first offender in the sense of there being no previous convictions for offences laid under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Forfeiture to the police of the equipment found in the room was ordered.

Sergeant Cleland said that 33 plants, up to 2 metres high, were found when police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address.

Wright said he had been growing the plants for eight weeks. He told police he had recently sold two bags of cannabis for $lOO each. . FRAUD CHARGE

No plea was entered by a man charged that with intent to defraud he obtained $1755 worth of lighting equipment from Academy Lighting by means of a false pretence. Richard Jeffery Georg Barker, aged 27, unemployed, is charged with committing the offence between March 1 and 2. He was remanded on bail of $750 to November 30.