AUCKLAND RIOTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1932, Page 2

AUCKLAND RIOTS

VERDICT TO-DAY. ARGUMENT FOR THE DEFENCE. (By Telegroyh —Per Brest Association) A UCKLAND, May 26. The trial cf fcurteon men accused of rioting wa ( s continued to-day, when Sharpe and Martinovich, two of the accused gave e.’.deuce, denying that there were : nily thing more than spectators. Each', ir.au called witnesses in support. (.ouiirel for accused Searles, then addressed the jury, contending that in the circiimst .re . of the riot, accurate ideutificatlci! was impossible. A verdict is (xpooced lu-muvow in the. case "in which fourteen men are being tried in ihe Supreme Court on charges arising out ol the noting which occurred in-the city on the night, of April 14th.' The hearing of evidence:dt#^Jtnes s os for the defence was concluded this afternoon,' Tim three counsel representing the accused completed their adresses to the 'jury to-day. An iiti'itsim! 7 large number of wilii(css"s was ic r'-'d during the trial. I he Crown called 62, ‘while''the defence called 26, a total of 78. Almost four day* were neon pied in caking the evidence. Addressing the jury, counsel for eleven of the accused submitted that those ill the pr.:< osrirn >•'( r-> no 4 - -e----sponsihlo for the damage done while the procession was on march. I hoic wus nothing to link up any of the accused with window breaking. “1 do not think it will take you ,

very long to reach a decision in these cases,” said counsel. “ r i here is a grave danger of these men being blamed for the acts of other people.” Counsel for Sharpe and Martinovich asked why the Crown had associated James Edwards with the men on trial. The jury would have seen with what vigour the Crown Prosecutor had pursued all the witnesses along a Communistic road; but this had not been a Comunistie riot. Counsel argued that Sharpe was the In-t type of individual to lie associated with violence cm! disorder. He also said that the police evidence against Martinovich was nebulous and unsatisfactory. Counsel for Serrle said that ■ the police had made a mistake in identification. Hit; ll<uioi:r .'dd lb"i. i! would b<‘ impossible to finish the ease that cveniand he rdjourued it until the morning.