Impartiality Questioned

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 3

Impartiality Questioned

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, June 13. A solicitor in the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton today asked Mr Stewart Hardy, S.M., for permission to have his client dealt with by another Magistrate.

Counsel, Mr J. B. Dillon, made the request when Alan Rene Bieleski was called before the Court charged with being on premises at Kio Kio on June 5 without lawful excuse. Bieleski was one of eight

members of an Auckland motor-cycle gang who appeared before the Magistrate today for sentence on similar charges. Two of the gang had earlier been sent to prison by the Magistrate. “I seek a fair trial and a fair sentence and, in the light of sentences given to other members of the group facing similar charges, I have reason to doubt whether 1 v.ill receive it,” said Mr Dillon. The Magistrate refused the request. “You are entitled to your own opinion, but 1 also wish to exercise my rights,” he told Mr Dillon. Bieleski was fined £lO and costs. Two other youths were sentenced to borstal training and four were placed on three years’ probation. The Magistrate discharged Marilynn Jeanne Hume. Elizabeth June Martin failed to appear. Sentenced to borstal training were Phillip George Clapham, aged 19, a builder’s labourer, and Phillip Ernest Schubert, aged 17, a spraypainter, both of Auckland. Placed on probation were Mervyn John Goodall, aged 19, a labourer, Kenneth lan Parkin, aged 19, a truck-driv-er, Geoffrey Nelson, aged 21, a panelbeater, and Graham

Stewart Barnes, aged 21, a welder. In each case the Magistrate directed that they are to have no financial interest in any motor-vehicle, and to keep the company only of those recommended by the probation officer.