Man broke Beehive window

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 9

Man broke Beehive window

PA Wellington A man had been in custody for eight days after breaking a window at the Beehive, the District Court in Wellington was told. Peter Timmins, aged 19, unemployed, admitted wilfully damaging a window, the property of the Government.

He was convicted by Judge Jaine and ordered to pay $2OO compensation. Sergeant Mary Kelly said that on July 30 Timmins went to the main doors of the Beehive and broke a 2m by lm plate-glass window valued at $2OO. When spoken to by the police Timmins had no explanation. A duty solicitor, Mr Chris LaHatte, said that Timmins after his arrest on July 30 had been in police custody.

“There was some concern expressed for his well being and for that reason he was remanded in custody,” he said.

The Judge said Timmins was on probation and was

convicted of a similar offence only two weeks earlier.

Asked by the Judge whether the prosecution had any concern about Timmins’s release, Sergeant Kelly said: “The only concern we expressed is that he could well be a danger to himself.” Mr LaHatte said it seemed that but for the place Timmins chose to do the damage “this would have been treated as a very minor offence except, of course, for his previous conviction.” He said Timmins said he had a permanent address at Auckland where he lived with his parents.. The Judge: Why do this a fortnight after you were released on probation for the same thing?

Timmins: I was in an intoxicated state.

Ordering payment of compensation, the Judge said he would take into account the time Timmins had been in custody.