Maori Gaoled For Assaulting Police

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1938, Page 10

Maori Gaoled For Assaulting Police

At the Kaitaia Court on Boxing Day, Jerry Peter, a Maori, single, aged 28, appeared before Messrs J. T. B. Taaffe and W. H. Atkins, J.P.’s, charged with assaulting Sergeant Simister and Constable Molloy while in the execution of their duty, with resisting Constable Molloy in the execution of his duty, and with using obscene language. Defendant pleaded guilty to the assault and resisting charges, but not guilty to the use of obscene language. Sergeant W. H. Simister stated that on Christmas Eve at about 8.45 p.m., while he was patrolling Commerce Street, Kaitaia, in company with Constable Molloy, a Maori named Steve Murray approached them and stated that Jerry Peter was in his motor car, which was parked in Bank Street, and refused to leave when requested to do so. He asked the police to deal with him.

Accompanied by Constable Molloy, the sergeant proceeded to Bank Street, where he found Peter standing on the running board of Murray’s motor car. The sergeant asked Peter why he did not leave the car when requested to do so by the owner. Obscene Language Used.

Peter Immediately commenced the use of obscene language, and, taking advantage of the darkness of the street, assaulted the sergeant by striking him twice in the face. A scuffle took place for a few minutes and the police found ft necessary to handcuff prisoner.

Prisoner continued to resist until placed in a taxi and then used obscene language. The sergeant concluded by saying that assault on police in Kaitaia was fortunately almost unknown.

Constable G. Molloy corroborated the evidence given by the sergeant.

Defendant was convicted on all three charges. On the charges of assault on the police and resisting arrest he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on each charge, and on the obscene language charge he was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, the sentences being cumulative.