Woman denies threatening accused in Kong Case

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 9

Woman denies threatening accused in Kong Case

PA Umaru A woman witness denied in the Timaru High Court yesterday that when she visited Paul Francis McFelin in prison last November she had told him he would be killed “if he got off’ a kidnapping charge. Janice Mary Gillies, who had told the jury that she was “good friends” of convicted kidnappers David Larnach and Paul George, made her denial in crossexamination by counsel (Mrs L. 0. Smith, for McFelin, aged 30, and Karen Mary McFelin, aged 23, who are on trial for the kidnapping of Gloria Kong last June.

Miss Gillies said she would not lie for Larnach and George. ’ She had known them for about five years. Although Larnach had, for about six months, lived at a

cottage she had rented from March, 1982, at Round Hill Road, near Oamaru, and at which George had been a frequent visitor three months prior to the kidnapping, she had known nothing of the planned abduction of Gloria Kong. She said that McFelin was a frequent visitor to the cottage to see Larnach. Miss Gillies said that on June 27, two days before Miss Kong was kidnapped, Paul and Karen McFelin had arrived at the cottage, stayed for an hour, or two and then left with Larnach and George. The next night Larnach and George went out about 6 p.m. and did not. return until about 10 p.m. On neither occasion did she know where they were going, and nor did she ask.

Under cross-examination, Miss Gillies described Larnach as easy going, easily

led and easily influenced. She denied ever having supplied him with young girls in return for cannabis. While Larnach and George were on remand in Dunedin prison she had visited them daily because they were friends. The kidnapping had been discussed but only in passing. Referring to a discussion she had had with Paul McFelin’s oldest daughter, Miss Gillies denied saying that George and Larnach had their reasons for “fingering” McFelin. Earlier the court heard that two firearms said to have been used in the kidnapping were both stolen. The owners identified the firearms that have been produced as trial exhibits as previously belonging to them. Both weapons had been sawn off since being stolen. The trial continues today.