HOAX ADMITTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 99, 21 August 1945, Page 5

HOAX ADMITTED

OPOTIKI, ARMED HOLD-UP

ADMISSION ,BY YOUTH

The story of the hold-up near Opoftiki on July 25 whicihi caused considerable, local consternation found its sequel in the Opotiki Court last week when a youth aged 16 years pleaded guilty to having madte a false statement to the police regarding the alleged commission of a crime ? assault and robbery at of which he and a young girl were the victims.

To a further charge of indeccnt assault, he pleaded not guilty. Mr E. L. SJYI. ;) was on the

bench and the proceedings were dealt with in the Children's Court.

Sergeant J. who prosecuted said that the l'acts: with regard to the false statement were rather unusual. On July two Maoris who were under the care of the Child Welfare Officer near Gisborne, left their employ broke into a house and stole food ) two guns and ammunition. They left a note saying that they would not be taken alive and that their liberty would not be long and that they would meet next time in Heaven. The police took all and on the. next day it was found that a motor lorry haidi been taken from Otoko. The Opotiki police were trying to intercept the youths. On the night follo , \ving j the father of the girl concerned in the alleged asault telephoned the police to say that something serious had happened. Sergeant Isbister and Constable Gedye went to the scene, where they learned that a youth, while driving a girl home had got a puncture in the tyre of his car ? , and when the youth went to a neighbouring shed to get a, valve ( the girl had been set upon by a masked man ; dragged from the blindfolded and her hands bound. When the police arrived at her parent's home, the girl was lying on a couch and appeared, to lie in a shocked condition. , The youth was there and stated that when he went to get the valve from a shed he was set upon by two armed Maori youths who poked guns into his stomach and threatened to shoot

him. It was alleged that they relieved him of a ten shilling note and four packets- of cigarettes. Sergeant Isbister stated that na-' turally the police, had associated the assault with the escapees from Gisborne and the whole district was in a state of tension but as a result of a genuine assault at Rotorua almost at the same time a new complexion was thrown on the and the. accused after being closely questioned at last admitted that he had planned the whole thing. He admitted having disguised himself, when> he left the car and came back J and assaulted the gii'l. The Magistrate, said that in view of the circumstances surrounding the case the youth would be com-> mitted to the. care ot the Superintendent of the Child Welfare Department.