Car burned for insurance

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 18

Car burned for insurance

A man wbo set his car on fire in an attempt to get $5OOO from an insurance company was fined $750 by Judge Pain yesterday. In the District Court, Stephen Herbert McNlcholl, aged 22, a wood machinist (Mr G. A. Cameron) was appearing for sentence on charges of setting fire to the vehicle, making a false statement to the police, and attempting to claim $5OOO from an insurance company. It was a foolish plan of fraud executed while the defendant was under the influence of liquor, said the Judge. McNichoU, a first offender, had suffered financially through the loss of his vehicle and, under the circumstances, a fine would be a sufficient penalty, he said.

Mr Cameron said his client had acted hastily, without fully considering the matter. He thought commission of the offence was easy, with little chance of discovery.

McNicholl had earlier been drinking with friends and discussion had turned to burning the car and claiming the insurance. The offending took place in September, last year. Because of irregularities in the claim, the insurance company hired a private investigator. As a result of his inquiries, the company refused to pay out and the matter was reported to the police. COMMUNITY SERVICE Community service for 150 hours was ordered to be carried out by a woman convicted of receiving more than $2OOO — half the proceeds of

the Dalllngton Post Office hold-up on January 6. In addition, the Judge ordered Nicola Marie Emery, aged 26, to pay $5O compensation. Mrs D. M. Shirtcliff, counsel for Emery, said her client had used only $5O of the money to pay a telephone account. She had intended to replace this amount with the rest of the money which she had buried in her garden. At the earlier hearing, Emery told the police she felt entitled to the money to cover allowing the man accused of the robbery, Braden Dean Frees, to board at her address over the New Year holiday. DRUG OFFENCES

Fines totalling $l2OO were imposed on a cabinet maker, aged 31, convicted of cultivating cannabis, and possessing the drug and a cut-down sawn-off shotgun. ! The Judge told Laurentz Liem Francis Sinclair that the bare facts of the case looked “alarming” involving the growth of a substantial amount of cannabis and the possession of a shotgun. While both he, and the police, accepted that no commercial gain was involved, any fines imposed would have to be substantial in view of the gravity of the offending, said the judge. Detective-Sergeant Rod Bruce said that when police visited the defendant’s home on February 2 they found eight cannabis plants, five feet high, growing near a garage, and three more, four feet high, growing among shrubs in the garden. Six plastic bags of cannabis material were found

in the house. These weighed a total of 345.7 grams. The cut-down shotgun was found in a cupboard.

Counsel, Mr D. I. Jones, said the circumstances were not as sinister as, at first glance, they might appear. * Sinclair, a first offender, bought the house two years ago and found some cannabis seeds in the course of its renovation. These he planted and they grew more prolifically than he expected. The defendant admitted that he had “the odd puff of cannabis in the past, said Mr Jones. There was no concealment about the growth of the cannabis. Also, there was no intention of possessing the drug for sale or supply. As for the shotgun, his client had a permit for it He cut it down to it* present size for use as a side arm when pig shooting — a sport he had been involved in since he was 16, said Mr Jones. Counsel said it was not a case for imprisonment Perhaps even periodic detention was not appropriate; A fine might be the more appropriate. On the charges of possessing, and cultivating, Sinclair was fined $5OO on each, and $2OO on the shotgun offence. CHARGES DENIED Charges of arson and robbery laid against Murray William Urquhart were denied. Urquhart, aged 41, a labourer (Mr M. J. Glue) was remanded to March 16 for a defended hearing. Bail of $lOOO was renewed. He is charged with wilfully setting fire to Wo cars on December 19, last year, and with robbing a man of $9O in cash on February 3.