Shoes, clothing robbery in busy street

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 6

Shoes, clothing robbery in busy street

Explosive spontaneous -robberies were sad commentaries on what was happening in the city streets of New Zealand, Mr Justice Cook was told in the High Court yesterday. His Honour jailed Anita Leonard, aged 22, a prison inmate, for six months on a charge of aggravated robbery of shoes and clothing valued at more than $5O from David Barry Sisson, an unemployed beneficiary, at Auckland on August 10 last year. The term is to be served concurrently with Leonard’s present sentence of one year which was imposed on October 6 for a series of false pretence, theft and burglaries. Leonard, who was represented by Mr P. H. B. Hall, pleaded guilty on arraignment.

Evidence was given at the taking of depositions that Mr Sisson approached Michael Morrison Herbert

Retimana, who was a companion of Leonard, for cigarettes outside McDonalds Restaurant in Auckland. While Mr. Sisson was on a seat with some friends Leonard came out of the restaurant with three girls and began to hassle them. His two friends went off.

Leonard hit Mr Sisson on the side of the head with her closed fist and Retimana ordered him to stand up and told him that if he did not take off his jacket, T-shirt and shoes, he would be punched. He did as he was ordered. Leonard took Mr Sisson’s wallet out of his back pocket and his bank book out of his top pocket and then pushed him into a wall. He suffered a cut over his right eye and bruising to his head and face. His property was not recovered. Mr Hall said that Leonard and her companion had as-

saulted the complainant in a busy Auckland street. The offence was a pathetic commentary on Avhat was happening in the city streets in New Zealand.

The robbery was not premeditated but was a spontaneous explosion of violence of short duration. No weapons were involved. It was not a serious incident of its type.

Because she had been drinking for some considerable time and had taken valium tablets given to her by Retimana, Leonard had very little recollection of the incident. Leonard’s jail term was to expire in July, Mr Hall said.

Mr Justice Cook said that it was apparent that Retimana had played the major role in the robbery. He had been jailed for 11 months for his part in the offence. Counsel had stressed that the robbery was not premeditated.