INCIDENT WITH RIFLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 259, 1 October 1945, Page 6

INCIDENT WITH RIFLE

COURT CHARGES FOLLOW.

A charge of discharging a. firearm (a .22 rine) at the rear of premises in Cuba Street so as to endanger passers-by was preferred in the Magistrate's Court today against Platon Mackres Berdebs and Anasteos Mackres Berdebs. Anasteos Berdebs was also charged with presenting a firearm at Olive Elizabeth McNeil without lawful and sufficient purpose. Mr C. C. Marsack, S.M., presided, Senior-Sergeant R. Audley presented the case for the police, and Mr G. Crossley appeared for defendants. Pleas of not guilty were entered, to the three charges. Evidence was given by three young women that they heard shots in a yard at the back of restaurant premises in Cuba] Street. One, from a nearby upstairs window, asked defendants if they had permission to use the rifle within the city and the elder defendant pointed the rifle at her. Statements made by defendants said the rifle had been used on that occasion to shoot rats. Mr Crossley said the elder defendant waved the rifle at the three young women in resentment. He did _ not point the rifle.

The Magistrate dismissed the charges of discharging the firearm to the danger of passers-by, and Anasteos Berdebs was fined £5 on the charge of presenting the rifle. The Magistrate said it was. a little surprising that this defendant had used a rifle and not his fist to shake at the young woman if he wished to express his disapproval of her remarks.