MAGISIRATE TAKES A SERIOUS VIEW OF UNPROVOKED ASSAULTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 December 1949, Page 8

MAGISIRATE TAKES A SERIOUS VIEW OF UNPROVOKED ASSAULTS

A serious view’ of unprovoked assaults wa : ; taken by Mr. S. S. Prestpn, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when he issued a warning that in his view the only way to deal with cases of this nature was by imposing terms of imprisonment. “This type of conduct will receive no consideration from this Court,” said the magistrate, imposing a line of £lO, with Court costs 19s and witness’ expenses £4 2s, on Albert Hector Walker, of Auckland, charged with assaulting John Wilkie at Wanganui on the evening of October 21. Senior-Sergeant F. Culloty handed the magistrate a letter from* accused and another from his solicitor. “The accused admits the assault, but in his letter states that he had provocation,” said the senior sergeant. Wilkie said in evidence that, he had parked his car in Victoria Avenue when a truck bumped into the rear. No damage was done, but three young men in the truck told him to “get his crate off the road. ’ A traffic inspector came on the scene and took particulars. Witness added that he returned to his car and was sitting in the front seat when accused came up to the open window and struck him a blow in the eye. Witness denied using provocative language or striking accused. After evidence had been given by Inspector J. H. T.linnell, of the City Council’s traffic department, Constable R. F. Burgess read a statement made by accused to the police. In his statement, accused alleged that Wilkie used provocative language and struck him. Senior-Sergeant Culloty: There is a difference between accused's statement to the police and hi. r? Court. The magistrate: It is not given on oath. The magistrate said that after hearing the evidence he was sur ■ version given in Court was the correct one. Accused was charged with a serious offence for which he was liable to a term of imprisonment, but had not seen fit to appear before the Court. “Apparently he was one of several young men who came to Wanganui in connection with the motor - cycle sports. It appears that they thought they were a Jong way from home and it is a typical case of hoodlums and larrikinism,” the magistrate added. “This is the type of bash artist that •we see a good deal of in New Zealand at the present time. “My attitude so far as unprovoked assaults are concerned is that there is only one thing for them, and that is a term of imprisonment.” In the present case accused had no previous convictions, but the Court did not intend to treat the matter lightly. Imposing a fine of £lO, the magistrate ordered that half the amount be paid to Wilkie.