Man awaiting trial transferred

Press, 29 March 1984, Page 5

Man awaiting trial transferred

A man awaiting trial on a charge of the $104,000 armed bank robbery at Lumsden was yesterday transferred from’ Christ-

church's medium-security Paparua Prison to Auckland’s maximum-security prison at Paremoremo. Alistair John Barr, aged 27, was transferred to Paremoremo for “reasons of security," said the superintendent of Paparua Prison. Mr H. S. Stroud. Asked whether Barr had been a trouble-maker. Mr Stroud said "not particularly." He denied reports that a weapon had been found in Barr's cell. He would not comment further on the security reasons for Barr's transfer.

Barr is due to appear in the High Court in Christchurch on April 30 charged with the armed robbery of the Lumsden branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Stroud said that while on remand Barr had previously been in Paremoremo as well as in a prison at Invercargill.

Barr would return to a Christchurch prison if his trial was in Christchurch, he said.

Barr appeared in the District Court yesterday, on remand, charged with giving false particulars to obtain a passport. (Report, page 14.)