Complaint laid by woman ‘put in the past’

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 14

Complaint laid by woman ‘put in the past’

Charges against Gary William McQuillan, aged 31, unemployed, arising from his allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill a woman were'dismissed by Judge Fraser in the District Court yesterday after the woman said she did not wish to give evidence.

The three charges dismissed were of assaulting Christine Mary Blackler,

threatening to kill her, | and possessing an offensive weapon, a knife, inj circumstances which; prima facie showed an intention to use it to commit an offence involving a threat of violence. The charges related to January 23. They had been denied by McQuillan, and were to have been the subject of a defended hearing yester-

, day. The complainant, who ij was the principal witness 11 to have been called by the ii police, advised that she did not wish to give evii dence. She told the Judge that > she could not now remember half of what hapI pened as she had been > intoxicated; things had i been resolved, and there was no animosity anti “no

hassles,” and she wished to put it all in the past. Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said the police could take the matter no further, and offered no evidence.

The Judge told the complainant he accepted what she had said but reminded her that she ran the risk of any further similar complaint to the police not being received with any sympathy.