ASSAULT CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 139, 27 March 1940, Page 5

ASSAULT CHARGE

SOLDIER IN COURT ALLEGED THREAT OF RAIDS Considerable public interest was shown in an assault case heard before justices of the peace at the Opotiki Police Court on Saturday. A second echelon soldiier on leave pleaded guilty to assaulting M. Mravieh. Sergeant J. Isbister said that on Tuesday and Wednesday the police received information that the soldiers intended to wreck Mravich's fish shop and also another business place. The premises were kept under observation until 3 p.m. on Thursday, when the police left. Later they received an urgent message and visited the shop, where they found the proprietor with his head and shoulders covered in blood, He complained that he had been assaulted. Careful inquiries by the. police showed that Mravicli had given no provocation. The police then went to an hotel and accused admitted tihe assault. Accused made a statement. in which he alleged Mravicli had referred to his uniform and he resented it. Mr E. A.. Funkall, for accused;, said he had no knowledge of a prearranged plan to wreck the shop. The present "was a very anxious time throughout the Dominion and the Bench was rtware of the Communistic element. The Communists were adopting the plan of asking for police protection at this time, suggesting their fear of attacks by soldiers. In fining accused £1, the justices* said tjhey took a serious view of the ease. Accused had no right to assault Mravicli in his shop. They had in mind the fact thaH aiccused was going to the front. The fact that Mravicli had Communistic leanings should have no bearing on the matter. They said they took a very lenient view in inflicting tihe penalty.