Stag party ‘back-fired’

Press, 30 May 1985, Page 18

Stag party ‘back-fired’

PA Tauranga A truck driver has been found guilty of injuring a man with reckless disregard for the safety of others, after an incident at a stag party. Steven Kenneth McCullough, aged 25, of Pukehina, denied the charge and two others when he appeared before Judge Richard Kearney in the District Court at Tauranga this week. He was found not guilty of causing bodily injury to Peter Brown by driving a vehicle dangerously and injuring him. Mr Brown, a truck driver, of Te Puke, told the Court that friends had held a stag party for him on April 3 in a shed on a farm, three days before his wedding. Two heavy balls and chains were attached to his legs and the “usual things” associated with stag parties took place, he said. One ball and chain was taken off during the evening but the other was still attached when people started leaving at about mid-

night. Mr Brown said that he was standing at the door of the shed saying goodbye to guests when he saw a car driven by the defendant coming towards the door. He tried to drag the ball out of the way. “That is the last thing I remember,” he said. His next recollections were lying on the concrete floor of the shed, then being in hospital. Mr Brown said that he spent five weeks in hospital and had not returned to work since the accident. Cross-examined by defence counsel, Mr John Sanders, Mr Brown said that he had issued a general invitation to the party to his workmates, including McCullough. The owner of the farm, Mr Melvin Bragg, said that he had been resting his foot on the ball when the car approached at a fast speed. The driver stopped, then about 3% metres from the entrance of the shed, “put his foot down”, Mr Bragg said.

He said that he jumped out of the way but the ball caught between the front axle of the car ' and the bumper and was pushed along the concrete floor for about nine metres. The chain was still attached to Mr Brown, who was dragged about seven metres inside the shed. Mr Bragg said that he called an ambulance and contacted the police the next day. Constable Ron Burgess of Te Puke said McCullough told him he had been the driver of the car. McCullough had said: “I was responsible. I was as full as a boot. It was a silly thing to do”, said Constable Burgess. The defendant had said he did not realise the ball and chain were still connected to Mr Brown’s leg. The Judge said the accident was “tragic” and a medical report indicated the injuries could have a longterm effect on Mr Brown. He remanded McCullough on bail of $lOOO to appear for a probation report and sentence tomorrow.