ACCOUNTANT SENT FOR TRIAL

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 7

ACCOUNTANT SENT FOR TRIAL

PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO PERJURY CHARGE Ruling that there was suliicient proof in the evidence so far given to estahlish a prima facie case against tne accused that he made a statement on oath on - J anuary 30, 1946, and also that the statement made by the accused was false and known to have heen false, Mr. C. C. Marsack, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North yesterday committed Peter Gerard Cope, accountant and company director, aged 34 years, a married man with four children residmg at 8 Elmira Avenue, to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of perjury, after the accused had pleaded not guilty. The presentation of the case for the prosecution occupied the Court tliroughout the day, the police calling 11 witnesses. Detective-Sergeant O. Power eonducted the case for the police, and Mr. W. E'. Leicestcr (Wellington) ap peared for the accused. The wide public interest being taken in the pro ceedings was refiected in the crowd which occupied the public gallery during the hearing. An application byr counsel for a renewal ot bail in accused 's own recognisance for £:»00, was opposed by Mr. Power wlio said that it was a serious charge, and as the proceedings had now reaclied the stage of committal he asked that consideration be given to the question of a surety. The Magistrate allowed bail of £500 in accused 's own recognisance Tlie charge against Cope was that at Palmerston North on January 30, 1946, thon being a witness in a certain judicial proceedings, to wit, upon tlie hearing before Mr. C. C. Marsack, S.1M., of two informations charging him, the said Peter Gerard Cope, firstly as a principal and alternatively as an accessory in the illegal salc of 200 gallon of motor spirit on or about Februarv 25. 1945, as part of his evidence given 011 oath in open Court, did assert, as a matter of fact, that he was in Auckland from Februarv 22, 1945, to Febru-' ary 26, 1945, such assertion being known to the said Peter Gerard Cope to be false and being. intended by him to mislead the Court holding the said proceedings, and did thereby commit perjury.