THIRD DEGREE?

NZ Truth, Issue 1179, 5 July 1928, Page 7

THIRD DEGREE?

* Detectives' Methods Questioned (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auokland Rep.) The actions of two detectives who were said to have entered the cellrooms of the police court for the purpose of interrogating a prisoner after the man had been charged before the magistrate and a remand granted, drew crttioal observations from Lawyer Sullivan m the Auokland Magistrate's Court the other day. A YOUNG woman gave evidence" al- ™ leging that John Thomas Harold Jones, aged 19, had indeoently exposed himself as he passed her m Middleton Road, Remuera, about 8.40 on a recent evening. Reporting the matter at the Newmarket police station immediately afterwards, witness was able to Identify the youth when later she pointed him out to a : constable who accompanied her down Broadway, Newmarket. 'The defence was a complete denial, counsel contending that there was a clear suspicion of weakness m the prosecution m the fact that two detectives entered the ceils at the oourt with the object of obtaining a further statement from aocused afte? he had been formally charged and a remand granted by the bench. "If the police were so satisfied m the strength of their case," said counsel, addressing the bench, s "why was it that last Friday morning, shortly after 10 o'clock, two detectives went m to my man m the cell folr the purpose of an interview? 7 "I have 7 given Thotloe to the detectives that 71 Intended mentioning this matter to your worship. "One of the ..detectives said to my client: 'You say you have never been m Middleton Road?' My client answered: 'No.' COUNSEL PROTESTS "The detective then 7, said: *Tou exposed yourself there, about three weeks ago, so 'what's the good of saying you didn't?' ' / ;•. "I wish your wbirstiip " to Tnote that the detectives entered the hack room without the permission of the police sergeant m charge and suggested to the man that he was guilty, notwithstanding the fact that the prisoner's counsel knew nothing about it! "The principle is entirely wrong," continued the lawyer, "and does not speak too kindly 'of British justice if two detective officers can enter the cell to interrogate an accused on an offence' and suppose^ to; him that he. Is guilty, after the-man has been charged before the court. 1 ' T Magistrate. Hunt: "They have a perfect right to interrogate the prisoner." . , „. ...... Counsel: "I submit, thajt if the police evidence is so -strong - that they can present the pr osecution;/I have a right to mention that they had no right to further interrogate ray client." From the witness-box, the ..accused youth described the scene m the cellrooms. '' With a remark to the effect that the offence was m the nature of an unfortunate complaint, the S.M. convicted. Jones and ordered him to come up for sentence if, called upon within six months.