Charges after brawl

Press, 10 September 1985, Page 18

Charges after brawl

A brawl at the Zetland Tavern on Saturday led to the appearance of three persons in the District Court yesterday. Neil Andrew Copland, aged 21, unemployed (Mr K. J. Grave), who admitted a charge of assaulting a police sergeant in the execution of his duty, was convicted by Judge Fraser and remanded to September 27 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant J. W. Dwyer said Copland was one of two men who attacked Sergeant B. Thompson who, in the course of attempting to control a brawl at the tavern, became separated from other police. Although he admitted the offence, Copland denied punching the sergeant. Sergeant Dwyer said the brawl, in which 21 were arrested including 11 as a result of a fight outside the tavern, in the City Mall, was viewed seriously by the police. Mr Grave asked that the matter be dealt with by a fine as the defendant wished to return to Australia soon.

Judge Fraser declined the request, saying he would call for a probation report and also evidence regarding the alleged punching of the police sergeant.

Derek William Lome Ryder, aged 20, a beneficiary, was remanded to Friday, without plea, on a charge of assaulting Ser-

geant Thompson, and intentionally damaging a police car. He did not plead.

Tui Natalie Patricia Arthur, aged 20, a solo mother, charged with intentionally obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty, and using obscene language in Cashel Street, was remandeed on bail to September 16. FRAUD OFFENCES Compensation of $4482 was sought from a man convicted on 19 offences of false pretence and five of incurring debts. Darrin Timpson, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue), admitted the offending which occurred mainly in the Invercargill area and in Christchurch. He was remanded in custody to September 16 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Dwyer said Timpson opened a cheque account at an Invercargill bank in May with $lOO deposit. He then began issuing cheques from the book and went into an unauthorised overdraft of $1474. In August he came to Christchurch, booked into five city hotels and motels, and left without paying bills, which totalled $3OOB, said Sergeant Dwyer. THEFT CHARGE Two men jointly charged with stealing an $ll,OOO utility vehicle were each remanded on bail of $lOOO to September 16,

Darryl Wells, aged 22, and Michael William Retailick, also 22, both cutters, were charged with committing the offence on September 7. An application for interim suppression of Retallick’s name by Mr K. J. Grave, because of the ill-health of his father, was refused by the Judge. The charge relates to an incident in which a fire in a garage, attended by the Fire Service, led to the arrest of two men.

The police say the fire started from a gas torch being used to cut up a stolen vehicle.