ILLICIT WINE-SELLING

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 49, 20 November 1929, Page 6

ILLICIT WINE-SELLING

AUSTRIAN WINE-MAKER CHARGED CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE £ls FINE IMPOSED Confl ct between the evidence given by witnesses in Court and their previous statements to the police was a of a case heard*at the Kaitaia'Magistrate’s Ccu t list Friday, in which Ivan Posinkovich, the holder of a winemaker’s license, was charged with selling wine in qnantiities of less than two gallons. In statements previously mtde

to the police three witnesses admitted they had gone to Posinkovich’s place about 8 p.m. for a drink and had stayed until ab ut 5 a.m„ paying 2s a bottle for the wine. In the hearing of the case, however, only one witness stuck to this story. For the defence it was argued 'f that the wine had been given to the witnesses, not sold to them, and two of the witnesses corroborated this story, contradicting their previous statements to the police. “It is evident the witnesses have been got at,” stated Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. “I prefer to accept the statements given to the police.” He imposed a fine of £ls, with 2ls costs and witnesses expenses £2 ss. Further charges against Posinkovich of keeping his premises open when such were directed to be closed, and of permitting wine to be consumed on his premises, were withdrawn by leave ot the court.