Burglars’ use of firearms brings six years jail

Press, 5 March 1988, Page 12

Burglars’ use of firearms brings six years jail

PA Auckland ( Two men who burgled a Manurewa ! . chemist's and then fired at police when they were have been sentenced in the High Courti at Auckland to six years jail. A jury I had earlier found Peter Francis Atkinson, aged 43, and Lester Hamijton, aged 40, (guilty of burglary and of (using a firearm against police during an incident on February 19. 1987.

I i The Crown prosecutor, Mr Michael Ruffin', told the Court that the sentence should be a deterrent to a ( "disturbing trend” towards criminals firing on the police. He said that in 1986 there had been six cases of people using firearms against; police. Last year the number of incidents had more than doubled to 15. | - . ( Mr justice Thorp said he accepted- that I in the

accused’s case they may havd fired a warning shot rather than tried to shoot the two constables. But he expressed concern about the | “inevitable level, of violence” when guns were takejn to the scene of a crinje. Hjs Honour said he accepted submissions ' by Hamilton’s defence counsel,! Mr Michael Levatt, and counsel for, Atkinson, Mr (David Jones, that the raid on the chemist’s shop was only for drugs.

Counsel said both men had been involved with narcotics. Mr Jones said Hamilton had been addicted to narcotics for more than 20 years. Hamilton had tried various drug rehabilitation programmes and had tried to kick the habit but had returned to drug abuse after his daughter died in a road accident in 1985. “It may have been the catalyst for his return to drugs,” he said.