Youth remanded in custody for trial

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 4

Youth remanded in custody for trial

Peter Anthony Jackson, aged 17, a mill hand, was committed to the High Court for trial on a charge of attempting to murder Gary Peter Ashworth, aged 18, during a fight in the Riccarton Mall car-park on July 12. At the end of a IMi-day depositions hearing in the District Court yesterday Messrs R. C. Holland and G. N. Grey, Justices of the Peace, found that there was sufficient evidence against Jackson for him to stand trial on this and an alternative charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Despite an application for bail by counsel (Mr E. Bedo), Jackson was remanded in custody to September 10 with an order that he be kept apart from adult prison inmates as far

as practicable. The evidence of the remaining witnesses was read to the Court yesterday morning. This included a statement by Dr lan David Penny, a surgical registrar at Christchurch Hospital who attended Mr Ashworth after the fight Dr Penny said Mr Ashworth had four stab wounds — in his chest buttock and two in his groin — which were about Icm wide and consistent with wounds caused by a knife. He was severely shocked and had lost about two litres of blood. The Court suppressed the evidence of Detective Sergeant D. M. Quested which contained both verbal and written statements made by Jackson a few hours after the incident Mr Bedo submitted that members of a High Court jury could be

unduly influenced by what they read in the newspapers. Appearing for the Crown, Mr B. M. Stanaway did not oppose this application. He said that if the statements were to be challenged in the High Court it was appropriate that they should be suppressed at this time. Constable D. G. Fisher found a pool of fresh blood on the floor of the car-park at 9.20 p.m. on July 12, the Court was told, The pool was 34cm in diameter. There was also a trail of blood and three ’ partly bloodied shoe prints. Later that evening he accompanied Detective Sergeant Quested and Jackson to a house at the corner of Matipo Street and Riccarton Road and Jackson indicated where he had thrown a knife.