Holdem ‘child-like’ under questioning

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 4

Holdem ‘child-like’ under questioning

Staff reporter Peter Joseph Holdem, child-like and jabbering during questioning, admitted picking up a girl in Bromley, Christchurch, a High Court jury in Dunedin heard yesterday. His girlfriend finished her evidence yesterday on the fourth day of the trial of Holdem, who is accused of the murder and indecent assault of Louisa Damodran, aged six, on October 15 last year.

The woman whose name was supressed by Mr Justice Quilliam, said that detectives called for Holdem at Pineacres Motor Camp on the Sunday morning after Louisa’s disappearance. During the day at the Rangiora Police Station she had opportunities to speak to HOldem privately. “He seemed to be frightened during the discussions,” she told the Court. That evening, Detective Inspector Mai Griebel became involved in questioning Holdem. "During the questioning he (Holdem) was asked if he took the child and he could answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ If he couldn’t, just to nod.” The woman said Holdem nodded and said ‘yes.’ She said Detective Inspector Griebel then cautioned Holdem. Holdem, she said, claimed to have taken the child to a house in McDougall Square, Stewarts Gully. That evening the witness went with Holdem, Detective Inspector, Griebel, and Detective Gordon Eaton to the disused house. They got out of the car and went to enter the backyard but Holdem would go no further. Mr Graham Panckhurst: Did he say why he would not go any further?

Witness: He just kept saying he left her there. They returned to the Rangiora Police Station and arrangements were made for Holdem and his girlfriend to spend the night at a Woodend motel. The next morning they returned to the station. Mr Panckhurst: What did you say to Holdem at the start of the day? Witness: I was sick of it. I wanted to get it over and done with. I wanted to go home. In response, Holdem had asked for a pencil and paper. "It was so he could try and remember and write down everything he had done.” Holdem described in the document the route he took to Shag Rock to fish. He said he returned along Ferry Road and drove to Lyttelton and fished from Cashin Quay. He told of returning to the city and getting on to “the road that goes through the cemetery.”

Holdem went on: “I saw this girl and asked her to hop in and then went out the gate with her in the car.”

He described a route out to Stewarts Gully. They stopped at a house in McDougall Square. “I hopped out of the car and took her around the back. I got scared.”

The witness said she then wrote on the piece of paper: “Doesn’t remember what happened here.”

She said she left the police station early in the afternoon and when she returned learned that Holdem had been charged with murder.

She told of speaking to Holdem privately. He said he had been “a naughty boy” and pointed out holes in the wall which he said he had made with his head.

Cross-examined by Mr Gerald Lascelles, the woman said Holdem had worked for only three weeks during the 10

months she had known him.

Mr Lascelles: Would you agree that he is very immature? Witness: Yes. On the occasion of the interview with Detective Inspector Griebel, when you were present on the Sunday night, is it correct that he was in an almost child-like state? — It is.

He answered questions very erratically? — Yes. He jabbered a lot? — Yes.

Did you see him yourself banging his head against the wall at any stage at the police station? — No, I didn’t. Dr Leonard Treadgold, a Christchurch pathologist, gave evidence of his post-mortem examination

of Louisa Damadran’s body. He said he removed an article of clothing entangled in her hair around her neck. He had to cut the hair to remove it. He found no broken bones and no penetrating injuries to soft tissue. Dr Treadgold said he believed the cause of death was probably drowning, having eliminated other causes such as blows to the head, a broken back, penetrating injuries, and disease. Cross-examined, he said he found no evidence of sexual molestation. Mr Lascelles: Is it also correct that you found no signs of strangulation of the child? Witness: I found no signs of strangulation or death due to violence of any sort. Mr Roy Ginger, a scientist in the Chemistry Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said he was present when the article of clothing was cut from round the child’s neck. He later untied the item and found black hairs running through the knot which looked identical to

Louisa’s hair. The article was a pair of bloomer pants. He compared the weave in the pants with that in a top that the Crown contends is part of a matching set. “I found exactly the same weave,” Mr Ginger said. “As far as I know from my experience it was an unusual type of weave and it led me to believe they came from the same bolt of cloth.” Mr Ginger said the items could possibly have been made at the same time and place. The . Crown has called evidence that on the day Louisa Damodran disappeared Holdem and his girlfriend picked up about 12 items of children’s clothing and took them to their motel unit. Before Holdem went out for the afternoon he brought the clothing inside. The girlfriend told the Court on Wednesday that she went to put the clothes away and discovered the pants, which matched the top, were missing. She said she assumed they had been left behind in the car.

The Crown alleges that Louisa Damodran, aged six, was abducted less than 100 m from her home in Maces Road, Bromley, on October 15 last year. Peter Joseph Holdem, aged 30, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering and indecently assaulting the child. He stands trial before Mr Justice Quilliam and a jury in the High Court at Dunedin. Much evidence revolves round a black-and-white Holden car seen near Bromely Primary School the afternoon Louisa Damodran disappeared. The Crown alleges that Holdem abducted the child and drove past

Queen Elizabeth II Park, Burwood Hospital, and through Marshland, Spencerville, and Stewart’s Gully. Holdem is alleged to have searched for an isolated spot on the bank of the Waimakariri River. Late in the afternoon, near River Road on the south bank, Holdem allegedly waded into the water cradling Louisa in his arms. Moments later a girl was seen floating downstream. The Crown is represented by Mr Graham Panckhurst, with him Mr Raoul Neave. Holdem is represented by Mr Gerald Lascelles, with him Mr Richard Peters.