Pre-trial custody concern

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 7

Pre-trial custody concern

PA Wellington A Justice of the Peace said yesterday it was a matter of concern that an accused person had been in custody for nearly six months before the case came up for a preliminary hearing. Messrs Thomas Cradock and John Millar, Justices of the Peace, were hearing depositions in the District Court at Wellington, where Phillip Royce Noble, aged 22, faced 15 charges of supplying controlledSlrugs. “This case has tpen the

subject of a Ministerial complaint in relation to the length of time it has taken for the matter to come before the Court,” Mr Cradock said. It was a matter of concern when a person was in custody for close to six months before the matter came up for preliminary hearing. It was the third case he had had within the last few weeks, he said. Others were a 17-year-old who was in custody for more than three months, and a person who &. had been in custody for ?

more than four months. “I think it is a matter of public concern that those, matters took as long as they did to come before the Court, on the basis that a person is presumed to be innocent until proved otherwise,” Mr Cradock said. “It should be a matter of concern to those involved to see that the matters are dealt with speedily. I can comment in those three cases that I have made reference to that the fault did not lie with the Court. s The Court was availablofor hearings at any time.” T