VARIOUS CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 20862, 4 August 1931, Page 3

VARIOUS CHARGES

GREEK SENT TO GAOL

[Per United Press Association.]

IS'AFHTII, August d. “Ho bit, bo scratched, lie screamed, nud he cursed,” said .Detective-sergeant Fitzgibbons in the Magistrate's Court this, morning, when a Greek named Con Faliti pleaded not guilty to charges of molesting women, resisting the police, and being an idle and disorderly person in that ho had no lawful means of support. After a lengthy hearing Mr A. M. Mowlcm, S.M., convicted Faliti on all three charges. For being idle and disordorcly he was convicted and discharged; for resisting the police he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and for molesting women ho was sentenced to a further month’s imprisonment.

The Bench recommended that the accused bo given medical treatment. Detective-sergeant Fitzgibbons stated he had had occasion to warn Fafiti following complaints from women that the accused had followed them. In consequence of further complaints witness, with Sergeant Daley, attempted to arrest the accused. “Ho began to resist,” said witness, “ and caused a. lot of trouble, lie gave mo two broken ribs ns well as a number of bruises, and he bit Sergeant Daley on the wrist. It took three policemen to convey him to the police station.” In the witness box the accused, in answer to questions by the detective sergeant, denied that ho had attempted to stab a man in Wellington who was run out of a Greek club there, and that ho was known to have been guilty of following and molesting women and girls there. Evidence was giv.n by two women that Faliti followed them persistently and had spoken to them. One witness said she had, in an endeavour to rid herself of Faliti, promised to meet him later. She was later forced to seek the protection of a, constable. The other woman had to enter a shop to eseapo from the accused.

Convicting the accused, Air Aloivlem said ho had no doubt whatsoever that Pafiti was the man who had been troubling women. Pegarding the resistance to the police, bo considered that the accused bad behaved like a madman.