$lOOO fine sequel to bar incident

Press, 31 August 1984, Page 10

$lOOO fine sequel to bar incident

A man, who, according to the probation officer, refused to admit that he had a problem with alcohol, winced when fined $lOOO by Mr Justice Roper in the High Court yesterday. The fine was in addition to a term of nine months periodic detention and a year’s probation which were imposed in David Allan Pickard, aged 29, a printer, on a charge of causing grievous bodily hard to Kathleen Nash with reckless disregard. The offence arose from a bar brawl in which Mrs Nash was struck by a glass which was thrown by Pickard and smashed. It was fortunate that she was not blinded, his Honour said. Originally Pickard elected trial by jury on the charge but pleaded guilty before depositions were taken in the District Court. Mr B. M. Stanaway appeared for the Crown. As a result of the barroom incident Mrs Nash was a hospital patient for

two weeks, underwent two operations and has to permanently wear a contact lens in her right eye.

The police statement said that Mrs Nash was a in a hotel bar about 7 p.m. on June 1. Pickard, who had earlier been involved in a disturbance in the bar, had picked up a glass and thrown it. Mrs Nash had nothing to do with Pickard. When the glass struck a table it shattered and slivers struck Mrs Nash in the face, causing extensive injuries. Pieces of glass penetrated both eyes and caused facial lacerations which required stitches. At the time Mrs Nash was leaving because of the earlier disturbance. Glass fragments were removed from Mrs Nash’s right eye which was permanently injured and required a contact lens. A second operation was necessary to remove glass from the left eye, the police statement said. Mr S. C. Barker, for Pickard, said that his client ws not involved in the initial

altercation but was hit by a stool thrown by one of the patrons. Mrs Nash had nothing to do with that. Pickard had a glass in his hand from which he was drinking and he had not deliberately picked it up with the intention of throwing it. He had no previous convictions for assault and had pleaded guilty. There had been no intention by Pickard to cause such injury to anyone and he deeply regretted his thoughtless action and wanted to compensate the young woman, Mr Barker said. His Honour said that in the last six years Pickard had five convictions for drunkenness in a public place, three of wilful damage and other convictions for alcohol-related offences. He had seriously considered sending Pickard to jail but on reflection he would be sentenced to nine months periodic detention, put on probation for a year and be fined $lOOO, half of which was to be paid to Mrs Nash under the direction of the probation officer.