ACQUITTED OF THEFT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 24

ACQUITTED OF THEFT

“Bush Justice” As Defence A defence of “bush justice” was advanced successfully in the Supreme Court yesterday on behalf of James Peta, aged 26, a showman, who was ac- 1 quitted of the theft of a radio valued at £3O. Peta, who stood trial before Mr Justice Macarthur and a jury, was alleged to have stolen the radio from John , David Adams, a man who was , living with him in a Bar- i badoes street flat, on or about ' September 3 last. He pleaded not guilty. Mr I. C. J. Polson, counsel for the defence, asked the ! jury to accept that Peta had had an honest, if mistaken, belief that he was entitled to take and sell the radio in order to recover money owed ' him by Adams for board. Peta, continually thwarted in his attempts to get the 1 money out of Adams, had enacted a sort of “bush justice,” submitted Mr Polson. Mr N. W. Williamson, for the Crown brought evidence that Peta, in selling the radio to Hulston’s auction rooms ; for £lO, had signed a certifli cate that it was his own personal property—thus indi- ' eating a dishonest intention, Mr Williamson submitted. Detectiv? Constable W. R. Withers gave evidence that Peta had told him “he knew he shouldn’t have sold the radio.” Peta, who gave evidence on his own behalf, said he had no recollection of say- ■ ing this. . The jiiry, after a retirement of two hours and a 1 quarter, found Peta not ■ guilty, and he was discharged.