Councillor pleads not guilty

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 28

Councillor pleads not guilty

PA Auckland A South Auckland councillor appeared in the District Court at Auckland yesterday at the start of a defended hearing into charges arising from the Queen Street riot. The councillor, who appeared before Judge Deobhakta, has been given interim suppression of name. He pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly behaviour and intentionally obstructing a constable. Constable Henry Bauckham said that on December 7, the night of the riot, he was at the downtown bus terminal about 11 p.m. A fight stated at the intersection of Gore Street and Customs Street and the police ran towards it to break it up. He noticed the defendant step on to the roadway and shout, “The police are out of control, they should be ashamed of themselves.’” The defendant told him he

was a South Auckland councillor. He (witness) replied he “did not know him from a bar of soap.” He told the defendant to leave the street. The defendant went to the bus depot. Later, witness heard him speaking to members of the crowd about police behaviour. The councillor told the Court that at one point he saw a young naan leaning against a car. The police

moved towards it and the young man was attacked by a police dog, then forcibly pushed over the bonnet He said the police action was unprovoked. The defendant said he told Constable Bauckham that he was a South Auckland councillor, that he was worried and that it was his view that the police were out of control The constable had told him he did not care who he

was and told him, using a swear word, to get off the street. Defendant went and stood by the bus terminal lounge. The constable came to him and told him he was under arrest He asked why and was informed it was for inciting to riot. He co-oper-ated with the constable. The councillor said that while standing by the lounge he never said anything. The case will continue on Monday.