ASSAULT IN FLAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 8

ASSAULT IN FLAT.

| WOMAN GRANTED PROBATION Following an incident which occurred in a flat in the city on September 10, Violet Amy Benjamin, aged 35, appeared before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, when she pleaded guilty to charge* of assaulting another woman and doing mischief by wilfully damaging a leadlight window to the extent of £1 10/. Mr. J. Terry appeared for accused. Detective-Sergeant Walsh described the assault, which occurred in the flat occupied by the complainant. On entering her flat, the complainant found accused there and was assaulted by her. Complainant was struck with an empty milk bottle and a broom handle. She incurred medical expenses amounting to £2 2/, and £2 10/ for the cleaning of her fur coat and clothing. Mr. Terry submitted that the accused did not go to the flat with the idea of committing an assault, but to have a "show-down" with complainant. Mrs. Benjamin, who was a highly strung and temperamental woman, was a little more yer- wrought than normally on the night of the assault. In a sense the incident was accidental. There was no possibility or likelihood of a similar occurrence. The magistrate said that certain facts relating to accused's temperament must be taken into consideration. "But the assault might have had serious consequences—it was only a question of degree and there might have been a death," he added. So far as the Court was concerned the woman assaulted was an innocent party. Accused was admitted to probation for 18 months and ordered to pay the expenses, £4 12/, together with £1 10/ tr repair the damage done to the win-1 dow. I