Man admits punching woman on the nose

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 6

Man admits punching woman on the nose

A woman who thought a man she met to be strange was later assaulted by him, the District Court was told yesterday. John Andrew Carter, a freezing worker, aged 21, faced charges in a depositions hearing of assaulting and indecently assaulting Lisa Hilda Caines, aged 18.

Mr J. H. Christensen and Mrs C. M. Holmes, Justices of the Peace, dismissed the charge of indecent assault because of insufficient - evidence. Carter pleaded guilty to the charge of assault.

Carter (Mr E. Bedo) was remanded on bail of $lOOO for sentence on July 11.

Miss Caines told the court that at 10.30 p.m. on February 25, she offered to drive Carter from a friend’s flat in Carmen Road to his home in Prebbleton. She had earlier driven him to the Yaldhurst Tavern and back to the flat, where they spent much of the evening playing cards.

She felt uncomfortable about him, and said he seemed to have a strange personality. She originally

suggested he took a taxi home, then changed her mind because she “felt sorry for him.” Miss Caines said Carter did not tell her his ad- 1 dress, but gave her directions which led her first to Prebbleton then to Halswell, to the back of Wigram Airbase, back to Halswell. She said Carter told her to stop the car several times, and tried to kiss her. She refused and told him to get out of the car, or tell her his address.

At one time, she got out of the car to seek the aid of passing motorists, but no-one stopped.

Miss Caines said Carter tried to grab her breasts, and she tried to stop him. He then grabbed the middle of her bra to pull her out of the car. She bit his left forearm, but he pulled her out of the car by her hair.

Carter “danced like a boxer” before punching her on the nose, said Miss Caines.

She got back into the car, and drove back to the flat. Carter opened the door and tried to kick her, she said.

She thought Carter wanted to have sex with her.

Colin Stewart Douglas Hewson told the court Carter was drunk when he arrived at the flat, and continued to drink during the evening. He had gone to bed when Miss Caines came to tell him she was taking Carter home, but seemed reluctant Mr Hewson said he was later woken by Miss Caines yelling and banging on the door. She was hysterical and had a red, swollen nose.

He and Stewart Cameron went to look for Carter, and found him at his home. He denied the accusations. Constable Peter Lawrence McCallum told the court that Carter admitted the charge of assault when he was arrested, but denied the charge of indecent assault.