Part in vehicle offence ‘only minimal’

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 4

Part in vehicle offence ‘only minimal’

A woman who admitted unlawfully getting into a $lO,OOO utility vehicle in which an alleged kidnapping occurred took no part in the latter and was an “unhappy bystander,” said counsel, Mr M. J. Glue, in the District Court yesterday. Deborah Marie Jennings, aged 19, unemployed, was convicted and given a sixmonth deferred sentence.

Judge Fogarty said he accepted that the defendant’s part was only minimal. An application for suppression of her name was, however, refused.

Sergeant W. J. McCormick said that at 5.30 p.m. on February 20 the defendant and three companions, two males and a female, were walking along a road when they came on the parked $lO,OOO utility in which the occupant was asleep. The sleeping male was allegedly threatened with a knife by her companions. The group then got in the vehicle with him and drove around the north-west area of the city.

The vehicle was later recovered undamaged and its occupant was unharmed, said Sergeant McCormick.

Mr Glue said his client was in a difficult situation. She had no wish to antagonise her companions. Jennings, a first offender, had no part in the alleged kidnapping, said Mr Glue. He submitted a strong element of coercion was involved:

Wendy Gaye Pocklington, aged 17, a solo parent, also charged with unlawfully getting into the $lO,OOO vehicle, the property of Ferniehurst station, was remanded without plea, to March 19. INCEST CHARGE

A psychiatric report is to be obtained on a man, aged 39, charged with committing incest with a girl, aged 10. The defendant, a freezing worker, was remanded in custody to March 19 without plea. The police say the offending took place between May and October last year. The defendant was granted interim suppression of name. STOLE BOAT An unemployed man who admitted stealing a boat

and trailer, valued at $17,000, told the police he had no idea how much he intended selling it for but that he needed money to support his drug habit, said Sergeant McCormick. Robert Dudley Burns, aged 30, unemployed (Mr J. Stringer), was convicted and remanded on bail to April 2 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant McCormick said that at 12.15 a.m. on February 26 the complainant saw his boat and trailer being' towed away. Bums, who had earlier been seen in the same street, was found a short distance away hitching the

trailer unit to a car. He told the police he had been following another car towing the boat and trailer from which the boat became dislodged. Burns later admitted having stolen the boat and trailer, which were recovered.

Compensation of $l5O was sought in respect of damage done to the trailer. AIDED ESCAPER

Donald Anthony Hayward, aged 20, a driver, told the police he helped Jason Craig Palmer, an escaper, to avoid arrest because he felt duty-bound to help a friend in need, said Sergeant McCormick.

Hayward (Mr H. D. P.

Van Schreven), was convicted and remanded on bail to April 2 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant McCormick said that on January 24 Palmer jumped from the dock and raced out of the No. 1 courtroom after being sentenced to imprisonment.

Acting on information received the police visited the defendant’s address on February 16. Hayward, who lived at the house with four other persons, said he knew Palmer but had not seen him lately.

Palmer was found in the attic and was arrested after a brief struggle.

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