CHARGE OF ASSAULT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 6

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

ALARMING EXPERIENCE DESCRIBED PA AUCKLAND, Nov. 17.

“I went to sleep and woke up later to find the light on and Lawrence standing beside my bed. He had a cut-throat razor in his hand with the blade open. I sensed the danger and threw myself out of bed. As I,did, I put my hand in front of my face to shield it. Lawrence made a slash at me and the razor edge struck my upraised right hand.” This was stated by Richard Archibald Sinclair, aged 25, in evidence in the Police Court to-day when Ivan Arthur Lawrence, aged 22, a labourer, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm on October 25. Lawrence pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Detective H. G. Daulton produced a statement by Lawrence. In it Lawrence said he was feeling very ill and “ dopey ” that night. He went to bed but stayed awake all night. “Ah daybreak I got out of bed, got the razor and went over to the man and woke him up. I then took a slash at his throat with the razor. The man put his hands up and I cut them with the razor. He screamed,” said Lawrence’s statement. “My reason for attacking this man was because I thought he had something to do with drugging me. When I attacked him it was my intention to kill him.”