CHARGE OF ASSAULT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 1, 9 January 1942, Page 5

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

CAR WINDOW SMASHED MAORI REMANDED ON BAIL In the Opotiki Police Court, before Messrs W. T. Burrett and F. J. Short, J.P.'s, a Maori Paul Taia, labourer, of Terere Pah, faced two charges. Accused was arrested by Sergeant J. I'sbister, who conducted the case on behalf of the police. Mr S. Hei represented the accused. Taia was charged that on January 1 he did assault Margaret Beryl Anderson, causing bodily harm. He was further charged that on the same date he did wilfully break one car window valued at. £1 15s, the property of Maurice Oxley Kidd.

In outlining the case Sergeant Isbister said that accused was a married man, living Avith his wife and family at Tererc. He was a farm employee and on 31st December came into town and was drinking all day. Some time about midnight he wandered down to the Otara river near the bridge and was in a drunken condition. A motor car was parked there and there was a young couple in the car. Accused; started to molest the couple and wanted to get into the car'. He/ was asked to desist, but his conduct only became more objectionable and alarming, and the young man in the car started to drive off. As* the car circled round and was about to pass the accused, he smashed the side windciw with his fist. The window Avas shattered and some of the glass splinters went into the girl's face. One splinter caught her in the eye and cut the eyeball across. The accused then ran away, but Avas subsequently arrested. The girl was immediately taken to Dr James, aa t lio ordered that she be taken to a specialist immediately, and she' AA 7 as taken to Hamilton that night by her father. It Avas doubtful if the eye could be ! saved, but they would not know for j four days. The girl's eyesight would be permanently impaired.

In asking for a remand., the sergeant said that the- girl would be the principal witness and would not be able to give evidence for some time. Accused was remanded to appear in the Opotiki Court on January IG. Bail was allowed in accused's own recognisance of £25, with a surety of £25 in addition. The bench decided that the second charge should ba heard in conjunction with the first.