TAXI-DRIVER ATTACKED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 14

TAXI-DRIVER ATTACKED.

YOUTH WITH LEAD PIPE

COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

A twisted piece of lead piping about 20in. long, an inch and a-half in diameter and about 3£lb. in weight., was the main exhibit in the Wellington Police Court to-day when Thomas James, labourer, aged 18. was charged with assaulting Brian Frederick Smuts Kennedy, taxi driver, with intent to rob. He pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that shortly after 8 p.m. on September 22 accused asked Kennedy to drive him to Lower Hutt. Alter arriving there accused said lie wanted to be driven on to Stokes Valley. The car was going up an incline when accused told the driver to stop, but before he could do so the driver was hit on fhe head with some instrument and almost rendered unconscious. He managed to grapple with accused nnd held him until assistance arrived. "1 do not remember exactly what happened," said Kennedy in evidence. "1 received one or two blows. 'lhe first thing I definitely remember was getting a knock over fhe left eye. 1 was by the back window of the car, but I do not know how 1 got into the back seat." Witness said he noticed the car going backwards and it stopped oft the road against the lence. He caught accused by the neck arid held him, at the same time calling for help. ' One of the local residents arrived with a torch and witness asked him to hold accused while lie got the car back on to the road. Witness could not do this. A motorist came along but refused to drive witness to a telephone. He then, walked with accused to a telephone and while going there, accused cried slightly and asked to be released. He said he was only a boy and would never try it again. Witness rang up his firm's office and later another taxi arrived bringing a constable. Tho constable asked accused why he did it and accused said he was desperate. Later, in the police station, lie admitted the charge. Witness found the piece of lead pipe in the car afterwards, and accused admitted that this was what lie had used.

Constable Tanner, in evidence, said that when lie told accused ho would bo arrested accused said ho thought it would bo an easy way to get. money to get back to Nelson, whore he carno from. Ho had taken the taxi driver out to rob him, and if he had knocked him out ho would have left him there.

Accused was committed to tlie Supreme Court for sentenco.