Five remanded on fire charges

Press, 10 January 1984, Page 16

Five remanded on fire charges

Four Ashburton youths made a further appearance in the District Court in Christchurch yesterday, and one in the Children and Young Persons Court on charges which followed the firebombing bid on the Ashburton police station on December 30.

The five were charged with attempting to wilfully set fire to the police station, and were jointly charged that with each of the others, with intent to commit the crime of attempted arson, they had in their possession an unlawful weapon—an incendiary device commonly known as a Molotov cocktail.

Two of the defendants, twin brothers, Paul O’Grady, a labourer, and Simon O’Grady, an apprentice butcher, aged 19, elected trial by jury. They were remanded by Judge Fraser to February 8 for the taking of depositions in the District Court at Ashburton.

Each was granted bail of $2OOO, with two sureties of $2OOO each. Dean Robert Rush, aged

17, a labourer (Mr A. N. D. Garrett) and Steven Pepene Meager, aged 17, a workman (Mr M. J. Glue) were remanded in custody, without plea, to tomorrow on these charges. Both counsel said applications would be made to the High Court for bail for these two defendants.

Mr D. J. Taffs, applying for bail for the O’Gradys, said neither youth had made verbal or written admissions in statements to the police. The only evidence against them was admissions or confessions of alleged co-offenders, and this was not admissible. In the Children and Young Persons Court a youth, aged 16, was further remanded to tomorrow when he appeared on charges relating to the fire. He did not plea.

Judge Pain remanded the defendant in custody, but counsel, Mr A. N. D. Garrett, indicated that an application for bail would be made to the High Court. Detective Sergeant D. M. Quested appeared for the police.