No recollection of accident

Press, 2 November 1984, Page 8

No recollection of accident

A passenger was badly injured, 10m of fencing was damaged, electrical wires were brought down, and debris was found 80m from where a car, driven by the defendant,. crashed into a power pold; said Sergeant G. G. Cleland in the District Court yesterday. The driver, Carl John Ryder, aged 20, a factory hand (Mr K. J. Grave), who was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises, later told the police he could not remember anything of the accident.

Ryder said he had been drinking earlier.

Leighton John Campbell, a passenger, was found on the road 50 metres away from the point of impact. He suffered severe head injuries and fractures to his neck and arm.

Ryder admitted driving a car with an excess blood alcohol level in Pages Road, and with causing bodily injury to Leighton Campbell by driving in a dangerous manner.

He was convicted by Judge Frampton and remanded at large to November 16 for a probation report and sentence.

- Sergeant Cleland said the accident occurred at 10.45 p.m. on August 16. At that time Ryder had been driving his vehicle east on Pages Road when for no apparent reason it left the road and collided with a power pole. The extent of the debris suggested the vehicle had also been travelling at an excessive speed, said Sergeant Cleland. FATALITY CHARGE A front seat female passenger was killed after a car driven by Douglas Robert Best collided with a power pole at 4.30 a.m. on August 19, said Sergeant Cleland. Best, aged 18 (Mr M. J. Glue), admitted causing the death of Patricia Timothy by carelessly using a car in Blenheim Road, driving with an excess blood alcohol level, and driving while not licensed to do so.

Sergeant Cleland said that as a result of the collision Miss Timothy suffered multiple injuries and was found dead on arrival at hospital. Initially Best said he had been pretty tired and must have fallen, asleep. He suffered a fractured hip, pelvis, and jaw. Sergeant Cleland said a vehicle inspector was unable to find any mechanical fault which might have contributed to the accident.

Best, he said, had never held a driver’s licence. The defendant was also convicted of stealing a $7OO car on August 10, and the theft of a bag and track suit, valued at $9O, on June 14.

He denied burgling the Staveley Street premises of Salon Michelle on June 12.

Best failed to appear in court on Monday and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested when visiting a friend at Addington Prison on Tuesday after being recognised by prison staff. On all charges he was remanded in custody to November 8 for a probation report and sentence. The charge to which he pleaded not guilty was remanded to the same date.

PERIODIC DETENTION Shane Carryle Traves, aged 19, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue), was sentenced to periodic detention for four months after earlier being convicted on eight charges of shoplifting. Mr Glue said that all the property taken, valued at $765, had been recovered undamaged. The defendant now had a job, he said. The Judge said previous sentences had had no deterrent effect on Traves.

In addition to periodic detention, Traves was put on probation for 12 months. TRIAL .BY JURY An office manager charged with possessing cannabis for supply elected trial by jury. The defendant, represented by Mr P. B. McMenamin, was remanded to November 30 for the taking of depositions. He is charged with committing the offence on August 5. Interim suppression of the defendant’s name was continued.

INDECENCY ACTS Desmond Russell Gray, aged 23, a warehouseman, was convicted and remanded to November 19 for a probation report and sentence after admitting two charges of doing indecent acts on a girl, aged 15. . The offences took place on September 3 and 4. Sergeant Cleland said the schoolgirl was well known to Gray who was aware of her age. The first offence occurred after the defendant, who had been drinking, had undressed the girl. The second took place next day. On both occasions the girl said nothing, nor did anything, to encourage the indecencies.

She remained passive fearing reprisals should she not co-operate, said Sergeant Cleland. Mr McMenamin said his client was a man of limited intelligence who had a psychiatric background. DRUG CHARGES

On charges of cultivating cannabis, and selling the drug to a person over 18, Nicholas James Stickings was remanded, without pleading, to November 8. Stickings, aged 23, unemployed, was allowed bail of $l5OO. The police say the offences took place on May 15. CHARGE DENIED A charge of receiving three sewing machines, valued at $lB6l, was denied by Sheryll Louise Davis, aged 31, a housewife. Davis was remanded at large to January 21 for a defended hearing.

The machines were the

property of the Christchurch Sewing CANNABIS PLANTS Twenty cannabis plants, 76mm high, were found when the police executed a search warrant yesterday morning at the Forfar Street address of David Allan Blackburn. Blackburn, aged 22, a set designer, who admitted a charge of cultivating cannabis, was convicted and fined $3OO. He told the police the drug was intended for his personal use. DRUG CHARGES A sickness beneficiary facing three charges of supplying a cannabis preparation, and three of selling cannabis, was remanded in custody to November 8. No pleas were entered by Reginald James Price, aged 33, who committed the six offences between July and September. $3OOO BAIL Bail was set at $3OOO for Michael Ross Allfrey who is charged with selling cannabis on three occasions in August ’ • Allfrey, aged 23, a labourer, was remanded to November 8. He did not plead. Bail was opposed by the police. NO PLEA ENTERED A husband and wife charged with selling cannabis were remanded, without plea, to November 8. Selwyn Waaka, aged 33, a machine operator, is charged with selling the drug on two occasions in July. His wife, Judith Ann, aged 26, is charged with one sale also in July. Leach was allowed bail of $750.