Man needed knife to start his car

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 4

Man needed knife to start his car

The courts

i The Magistrate’s Court (was given a lesson on how Ito start a car with a kitchen {knife yesterday. A 25-year-old unemployed machine operator. Trevor Douglas Williams, appeared on a charge Of possessing an offensive weapon in a public bar without lawful excuse. The weapon was a kitchen knife that had been used to {start the; defendant’s car. ■ Williams denied the {charge. The licensee of the tavern told the Court' that he saw the defendant take the knife from his boot or sock, flash lit in the air and put it back 'in his boot soon after arguing with someone at the table. The police were called and

lithe knife ■ was taken from I! 'the defendant and put!: i! behind the bar. j ; Williams was interviewed’! I'by the police and arrested r outside the tavern. The i I police said that the .defend- : i ant’s speech was incoherent, I : being under the influence of ] alcohol, but he admitted to : i having the knife for self i > defence because someone in i the bar was after him. > Williams told the Court i that he could not remember i saying that he had the knife for self-defence but if he did . 3 it was meant as a joke. 1 i He said that he had c carried the knife into the!’ ‘ bar in his hand and had put) it on the table. While up at ! lithe bar his knife was taken’

(from the table and he did I not realise what had. happened to it until interviewed Iby the police. The defendant and a witness for the defence explained to Mr N. L Bradford, S.M.. how a knife or a piece of wire can be used to start a car. Williams offered to take Mr Bradford to his car for a clearer explanation. The invitation was declined. Williams had been using the kitchen knife to start his car for a week after he lost his keys. Mr Bradford dismissed the {charge saying that unconjventional use of the knfe 'was reasonable and not unilawful.