CHARGE AGAINST NIMMO REDUCED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 4

CHARGE AGAINST NIMMO REDUCED

Guilty of Common Assault When Lionel Clifford Nimmo, of ■Wellington, appeared before the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of indecent assault on a female at Palmerston North on March 31, Mr. Grant (his counsel) asked that the charge be reduced to one of common assault.

Senior-Detective Quirke intimated that the evidence hardly justified the more serious charge. The case could bo met by a charge of common assault. The Magistrate reduced the charge as requested and accused then entered a plea of guilty. Senior-Detective Quirke, in outlining tho circumstances of the case, stated that Nimmo and others including tho young woman whom he assaulted, had been drinking together and he thought the blame could be fairly evenly distributed. The woman was taken home in a drunken condition and later Nimmo sent word to her employer that the girl was there. The young woman had no recollections of what had taken place, both being more or less under the influence at the time. Mr. Grant intimated that accused had taken into account the fact that publicity would do him no good nor the proprietor of the premises where the assault took place. Nimmo was between 19 and 20 years of age and belonged to a very good family. Tho trouble arose through drink and undoubtedly the blamo could be shared fifty-fifty. Counsel suggested a fire would meet the case. In answer to the Magistrate, SeniorDetective Quirke stated that accused came of very rcspectablo parents and nothing was known against him prior to this offence. Tho Magistrate thought a fine would meet the case fixing the penalty at £5 with costs £1 11s. Ho hoped acciAed would heed the lesson. ftlr. Grant asked for tho suppression of accused’s name, but the Magistrate thought that it had better be published in view of the reduction in the charge.