REMAND GRANTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17909, 13 October 1932, Page 6

REMAND GRANTED

SERIOUS CHARGE PENDING NAME SUPPRESSED MEANTIME A remand until Wednesday next was granted by Mr P. 11. Harper, S.M., in the Police Court this morning when a middle-aged man, whose name was suppressed in the meantime, was charged with committing an aggravated assault on a female. Bail was allowed. In applying for the remand, Detective McLeod intimated that on Wednesday a very much more serious charge would be preferred against the accused in addition to that already laid. Mr E. T. Brosnahau, in applying for bail on the accused’s behalf, explained that the present charge was not nearly as serious as it might appear, being one of thrashing t'hc girl, and lie asked, therefore, that bail should be fixed at a moderate amount, adding that the accused had lived in Gisborne for 15 or 20 years, and was not likely to leave the district in the meantime. “On the facts that I know,” skid Detective McLeod, “I must strongly object to bail. There is only oho charge at present, but I could if I wish prefer a charge of incest; that is the charge the accused will have to face on Wednesday. If bail is granted the ends of justice may be defeated.” Mr Brosnahan submitted that the accused should not be kept in confine* ment for a week, for there was nothing before the court to substantiate an allegation of incest. Some evidence should be placed before the court for the magistrate to judge whether or not bail should be granted. The statements made might.prove next week to be empty ones. iV Detective McLeod said he had the . girl’s statement,' and police evidence would be called to show that the'accused’s actions had been watched for some time. . t The magistrate granted bail, which he fixed at £2OO in the accused’s own recognisance, together with one surety of £2OO, or two of £IOO each. T|o magistrate also granted counsel’s application for the suppression of the accused’s name until the hearing.