Magistrate’s Court Assault By Nurse Alleged By Retardate Girl

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 12

Magistrate’s Court Assault By Nurse Alleged By Retardate Girl

A 19-year-old retardate girl, with a mental age of seven years, said in the Magistrate's Court yesterday that a nurse at the Templeton Training School had kicked her, slapped her face, pulled her hair, and pushed her over a bed. A former nurse, whose name was suppressed (Mr B. J. Drake), was charged with striking a mental patient at the hospital on March 12. The charge was brought under the Mental Health Act. Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday after the evidence of three prosecution witnesses had been taken. The hearing of the charge began on May 8. The patient, whose name was suppressed, said that the accused was the person who attacked her. She said

that one night when she would not go to bed the accused assaulted her. She cried, but she did not tell anyone about it. To Mr Drake, the witness denied that anyone had told her what to say. The other nurses were very nice to her, and the other girls at the hospital had never hit her, she said. She remembered one day when she wanted to go into the room where the medicines were kept, and one of the nurses put her cut. The witness said she had not been “a naughty little girl.” Nurse’s Evidence A student nurse at the Templeton Hospital, Judith Ann Perano, said the girl was a patient in one of the villas. The accused was a former nurse, and was now married. Early in March she commenced duty at the villa as a junior nurse, the witness said, and one morning when she was bathing the girl she saw . that she had more bruises on her body than usual. The bruises were around her hips, and on her back and arms. She reported this to one of the nurses. The girl was never free from bruises, but these were bigger and darker than normal, the witness said. Sht had reported about bruises on the girl's body earlier, but nothing had been done. During March, the witness said, she had a conversation in the bathroom with the accused about the girl. The accused said that “if I heard an almighty row not to worry as was in the broom cupboard.” The accused had not explained this. To Mr Drake, the witness said she had been a nurse for a little more than a year. The patients were all about the same mental age. They had their squabbles. On the Monday when she bathed the girl she noticed bruises, but on the Tuesday she noticed bruises which were not there the previous day. The matter was reported on the Wednesday. The girl always had one or two bruises. The witness said she had not seen the girl in the broom cupboard, and had not heard any row. If a girl, such as the complainant, was given a bit of a push she would easily fall over. She was quite a pleasant child, but could be annoying.

On the whole the accused seemed to treat the girl kindly, and used to go out of her way to teach her the use of words. In general she had good relations with the girl. The nurses worked long hours, something like 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The girl was unsteady on her feet, and tended to fall over. Pamela Winifred Foster, a student nurse, said that one evening she saw the girl halfway down the corridor when she expected her to be in bed. She was dressed in her night attire. The accused was trying to get the girl to bed, but she was having a bit of bother. Alleged Kicking The girl was sitting down, and the accused was kicking her rather viciously in the butt.ocks. The accused was wearing ordinary duty shoes with rubber soles. The accused punched the girl and pulled her hair and got her along the corridor by dragging her. In the dormitory the girl sat down on the floor by the bed, the witness said. When the patient stood up the accused pushed her with some force, and the girl went over the bed, turned a somersault. and landed on the floor. The girl was unsteady on her feet and the witness had experienced difficulty in getting her to bed and to do things. To Mr Drake the witness said she made no comment to the accused, and did not report the matter, as there were no bruises an the girl when she looked at her. The witness said it had occurred to her that the accused was having difficulty with the patient, and she had taken one of the girl’s arms. Mr Drake: Why did you not state that when you werd

giving evidence, and why did you not say that you had helped to drag the girl along to the dormitory? The witness (after a long pause): I don't know why I didn't. The witness said she helped the accused with the girl over the last few yards, and when they reached the dormitory she let go her arm. She then left the accused to carry on alone. Sometimes she had difficulty with that type of patient, the witness said. She had said nothing about the accused kicking the girl in the buttocks because the accused was senior to her. The witness said she had had to pull the girl on occasions, and she had fallen over. The witness said she had always got on well. With the accused. ; At this stdge the case was adjourned. DRUNKENNESS ' William Kenneth Sullivan, ■ aged 43 (Miss A. Barcham) ' was sentenced to three! months’ imprisonment for being drunk in a public placd on May 13. It was his fifth conviction for drunkenness within the last six months. “The accused is unwilling to go to Roto Roa island, and has promised to get in touch! with Alcoholics Anonymous,” said Miss Barcham, “I think it would benefit the accused to be removed from' drink for a while," said the Magistrate in imposing sentence. REMANDED Three workmen were remanded to Maiy 25 on a charge of, unlawfully taking a motor-car, valued at £lOO, the property of . Stanley Beech, at Ashburton on Monday. They were Swanson Hugh Kereti Kotata, aged 19. Joseph Henry, aged 17. and Brian George Ashford Martin, aged 20. Michael Kenneth Pearson, aged 18, a workman, was remanded by consent to May 25 on a charge of stealing £2 10s from Kevin John O’Connor on May 13. TRYING NEW PETROL When stopped in Wainoni road by Traffic Officer W. MacKenzie for exceeding 30 miles an hour on March 2, William Joseph Henderson told the traffic officer that he was trying the car on 93-octane petrol, said Chief Patrol Officer J. Brown. Henderson, who pleaded guilty by letter, was fined £2. LICENCE CANCELLED He was training for the national surf championships and was running late for a training swim, said Richard Eric Pocock, when explaining why he exceeded 39 miles an hour in Liriwood avenue on February 2. “You' have had too many previous convictions for speeding,” said the Magistrate when he fined Pocock £6 and cancelled his driver's licence for three months. On a further charge of exceed* ing 30 miles an hour when not wearing a safety helmet he was fined £2. OTHER TRAFFIC CASES On other traffic charges brought by the Christchurch City Council offenders were dealt with as follows: Exceeding 30 miles an hour: Arthur Robert Hines ( £5 (no safety helmet. £2); Brian Anthony Mallinson, £2 (no safety helmet £2, carrying pillion passenger with no safety helmet £2); Geoffrey Donald Minson, £2; William Barry Morrissy, £5; lan John Stevens, £3; Robert Worsfold. £4; Roger Harold Wright. £3 (no safety helmet £2); Kelvin Williaffi Farrant, £3; S’anley Merile Higgins £2: Robert Samuel Stafford. £2; Martinus Koppier, £2; Leonard Artdrew Wilson, £1 10s. No warrant of fitness: John Genet, £2 (driving vehicle other than specified on licence, £5); Alexander James McDonald, £2 (driving vehicle other than specified on licence, £3). Driving ineffectively silenced motor-cycle: David William McDonald. £3 (no warrant of fitness on vehicle. £2). Failing to comply with traffic control lights: Leslie George Foster, £3 (no war* 1 rant of fitness. £2),' Failing to give way to a I school patrol: Lyall Joseph . Leadbetter, £3. i Towing trailer with no I safety coupling: Daniel

Yisma, £2 (no warrant of fitness, £1). Failing to give way: Raymond Kendal Atkinson, £7; Joseph Henry Salt, £3. Parking offence: George Percival Thomas. £3. Failing to supply information: Robert John Young, costs only. CIVIL CASES (Before Mr A P. Blair, SM.) JUDGMENT SUMMONSES The follow’ing orders were made on judgment summonses:— C. Clarke, spinster, to pay Modern Miss. Ltd., £B, in default nine days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while 10s a week is paid; Kei Harvey, cook, to pay Blue Taxis (Christchurch) Society. Ltd., £lB. in default 19 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £1 a week is paid: William H. Noonan, glass cutter, to pay the North Canterbury Hospital Board £6 ss, in default seven days’ imprisonment; R Michington. labourer, to pay H. Knowles £2B 17s. in default 30 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £1 10s a week is paid; John W Garner, barman, to nay Credit Enterprises (New Zealand). Ltd.. £l3 15s 6d. in default 15 days' imprisonment. warrant suspended while 5s a week is paid; I Blatchford. carpenter, to oay Chas: E. Lunev. Ltd., £lOl 12s sd, in default three months’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £3 a week is paid: C. O. Ryder, railway employee, to pay C R. Waldron £3 8s Bd. in default four days’ imprisonment: F. Manifold, airman, to nay Frank Edwards £l2 10s. in default 13 days’ imprisonment. warrant suspended while 10s a week is paid: Cons’ance Lorraine Gwendoline Siat’co. married woman, to nav Miniver Gowns, Ltd. £ll 9s. in default 13 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while 10s a week is naid; G. D. Hammond to pay A. I. Cottrell £lO 15s, in default 12 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while 10s a week is paid: L. Landery. labourer, to nay Beath and Company. Ltd.. £22 10s. in default 24 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £1 a week is naid: Clarence John Wilson, labourer, to pay Cyclone Cycles £2B ss. in default 28 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £1 a week is paid: Carol McNaughton, sued as Carol Gempton, to nav California Snortswear, Ltd.. £l2 17s, in default 13 days' imprisonment, warrant suspended while 5s a week is paid; Thomas Jeffrey Dickson. butcher, to pay Commissioner of Inland- Revenue £BB, in default 90 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £2 a week is paid: Carol McNaughton, sued as Carol Gempton. to nay Knitwear Salon, Ltd., £3 8s 6d, in default three days’ imorisonment. warrant suspended while 5s a week is paid; M. Fell, labourer, to nay New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association. Ltd.. £l3 4s 6d. in default 14 days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while £1 a week is paid; A. C. Hutchison, clerk, to nay New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., £8 9s 4d, in default nine de vs’ imprisonment; Dennis M. H. Bunz. farm worker, to pay Albert Thomson £7 4s 9d. in default eight days’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while 5s a week is paid: Denhis M. H. Bunz. farm worker, to pay Albert Thomson £8 15s, in default eight day*’ imprisonment, warrant suspended while 5s a week is paid: R. A. Peters, labourer. to pay Reed. Gresson and McClelland £3B 7s, in default 40 days' imprisonment, warrant suspended while £2 a week is paid. POSSESSION ORDERS B. L. Meredith was ordered to give up possession of a flat at 8 Young street to Kathleen Jane Briggs and to pay arrears of rent and costs amount’’ng to £126 16s Bd. M. C. Harris, salesman, was ordered to give up possession* ef flat four at 154 Bealey avenue to Windsor Holdings, Ltd., and to pay arrears of rent and casts amounting to £49 2s.