Warning to armed robbers

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 55

Warning to armed robbers

PA Wellington A stern message to would-be armed robbers has been issued in a judgment of the Court of Appeal. Dismissing the appeals of five men who held up the Mangere Bridge Post Office at gunpoint on October 4, 1984, during which a man trying to protect his 10-montn-old baby was severely wounded by a shotgun blast, the Court said

that it would be a sad day for New Zealand if such violent conduct was not soon recognised for what it was.

The baby was also injured in the blast.

“This is highly criminal activity, taken to a level which is a total affront to society,” said the president of the Court, Sir Owen Woodhouse.

Raymond Guy Edwards,

aged 24, David Letele, 25, Dennis Edwards, 21, and Samuel Thomas Manahi, 28, all prison inmates, appealed against their sentences of 10 years jail, and Thomas Epiha, aged 23, a prison inmate, appealed against his sentence of seven years. The Court said each had pleaded guilty to several charges arising from their armed robery, in the course of which grievous bodily

harm was done to a Mr Hoyle and his infant daughter was injured.

They also pleaded guilty to several other related charges.

The facts in the case spoke only too plainly for themselves, the Court said. During the armed robbery customers were present, including children, and on arrival one of the offenders closed off escape by shutting the front doors. He was carrying a loaded shotgun.

Submissions were made to the effect that the sentences were manifestly excessive and that the sentencing judge had overreacted when he decided he must make an example of the offenders.

“This is highly criminal activity, taken to a level

which is a total affront to the society in which they live,” Sir Owen said.

“It is the duty of the courts to do what might be possible to drive this message home. On this occasion a severe response was required. It was provided.

“The sentences themselves are not to be taken as leading to new and higher levels of punishment for this category of crime. They are simply the emphatic answer that has had to be given in the grave circumstances of this very case,” Sir Owen said. The other members of the court were Mr Justice Richardson and Sir Thaddeus McCarthy. Mr Bruce Squire appeared for the Crown, and Mr Peter Williams (Auckland) for the appellants.