Estranged wife was stabbed and kidnapped

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 17

Estranged wife was stabbed and kidnapped

A manj aged 36. who broke into; his home, stabbed his; wife in the hip, kidnapped her, tied ' her to a carlseat and then drove to iGovernor’s Bay where he had sexual intercourse I with her, was committed in custody to the High j Court for sentence next Thursday. The defendant, a first offender, represented by Mr M. J. Knowles. admitted charges of kidnapping, burglary, assault with a knife, and' breaching a non-molestation order when he appeared before Judge Anderson in the District Court yesterday. In convicting the defendant. whose name was suppressed.; Judge Anderson said, [regardless of the present industrial action of rthe P.S.A. over the State Services Bill, he required [a j written presentence: report on the defendant. An earlier charge of sexually [violating his wife was withdrawn by the police. ! Senior-Sergeant Margaret Wright said that at „ 12 a.m. lon December 22. last year..! the defendant returned to the family home ’and climbed in through a window. His estranged wife, who had just finished a telephone conversation with a friend, was confronted in the hallway by the defendant; who was carrying a knife.' He grabbed her. She

screamed, and in the ensuing struggle the defendant stubbed her in the left hip causing a Icm deep wound, said Sergeant Wrighjt. [ After overpowering his wife tihe defendant started to tie) her up with a scarf. The noise awoke the; eldest claild. The defendant forced his wife outside into the family car. He told the boy tfiat his mother would be killed if he rang the police. . The woman who Tried to nin away was caught, put ip the car and tied to the front seat. The defendant placed a tin of petrol in the car and said if ( she didn’t do as she was told she would not come back alive. In the Governor’s Bay area the defendant indicated he wanted to have sex with his wife. They got out of the car and sexual intercourse took place nearby. The defendant had a knife with him in case she made a noise or attempted to ‘get away. Sergeant Wright said the defendant later drove his wife back home. He thrqw the knife away. It was' later recovered by the j police. ,A 4 home the couple were met by the police who had been called by the complainant’s son. The defendant, using a kni ’e grabbed from the kitchen, stabbed himself

in; 1 the abdomen. He was treated in hospital for the wound. : 1 [Later he! told police he just wanted to (talk to his wife about why she had stopped loving him, said Sergeant Wright; (She said that! in December, last year; the complainant had obtained interim non-molestation and non-violence orders. RECEIVING (CHARGE Interim suppression of the name 1 of a Christchurch lawyer charged with receivings fresh air fan was granted until; 10 aim. today.! j ; This was! to [allow counsel, Mr M.( J. (Knowles, to apply for suchjan order in the High Court within 24 hours. I I. ' Judge Anderson initially declined the application. The fan 'wiiich the defendant is alleged to have received , from another man in June! 1986, was the property of the Lyttelton Borough Council. Mr Knowles said that as a result of co-operation given to the police by his client last: year the defendant had been under the impression that he would (not be charged with the present offence, i The defendant was remanded to March 24. DEPOSITIONS Trial by ; jury was elected by a man facing three firearm charges and one charge of burglary. The accused, represented by; -Mr R. Glover, was remanded to June 7

for the taking of depositions. The defendant is charged with having a .22 rifle in his possession in Rowses Road except for a lawful purpose, presenting the rifle at a man and a woman, and breaking into a house in Rowses Rd. All four alleged offences took place on February 14. Mr Glover indicated that the offences would be denied by his client, who was granted continued interim suppression of his name. (BEFORE JUDGE ; FRASER) PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for two months, coupled with supervision for six months, was the sentence given to a man who beat up his girl friend following an argument after the pair had been drinking at a hotel. Heke Hemopo, aged 35, a labourer (Mr M. J. Knowles), had earlier been convicted of assaulting a female on March 5. The woman did not need medical attention. Mr Knowles said while his client admitted losing his temper and slapping his girlfriend, he denied putting his hands round ; her neck and partly stran- I gling her, or dragging her along the ground through broken glass. He said it was not a case of serious violence and did not call for a custodial sentence.