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Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 305, 9 December 1936, Page 3

No Police ‘Brutality 1 !■ -♦ * ASSAULT AND OBSTRUCTION CHARGES AGAINST LADY GUNTER ’ NOT PROCEEDED WITH ’. Allegations against the police of treating her with brutality were withdrawn by Lady. (Dorothy) Gunter at Kingston, England, when she pleaded guilty to three of five charges arising from a motoring incident at a Kingston traffic junction. As a consequence two further charges —assaulting a policeman and obstruction—were not proceeded with. Lady Gunter was fined £2 for ignoring a traffic signal; £2 for not having a driving licence; £3 for breaking a window, with 4s fid, the amount of the damage to the window. She was also ordered to pay costs totalling £3l 4s. Mr Du Cann (for Lady Gunter) said the fact that the principal charge against her last week (dangerous driving) failed had given her great satisfaction. “The Bench may think,” added Mr 'Du Cann, “that this high-spirited f‘.; : young woman was, perhaps, a little & more imperious than she need have been with the police officers. “It ig true that Lady Gunter was injured and that her property was damaged. But the exact amount of force which any ; police officer is justified in using to restrain a .woman who is in a state of excitement and resentment must always remain difficult to calculate, especially at the psychological moment. “It may be that the police officer did not realise that she had on her wrists things which, if er wrist was tightly held, might cause her injury. “£Jhe.is .prepared to admit that her conduct 'that night was inspired by the feeling of what she thought was justifiable resentment. “That was a resentment which the bench may think a young woman of this class who is accustomed more to deference than to dictation, might naturally feel in the circumstances, but in an encounter e? this kind between police afid th/? public is more wisely loft unexpressed. “In these circumstances, any suggestion that the treatment of which Lady Gunter, through me, has complained—any suggestion that that treatment was deliberate and designed, ia unreservedly withdrawn. ’--“There is no reflection whatever on the, conduct of the police officer in question. She is prepared to accept the theory that whatever happened to her wrists is due to her own struggles when her‘wrists were being held in a singularly powerful and muscular grip.” , "Mr Vernon Gattie (prosecuting) said the divisional surgeon, Dr. Armstrong, was prepared to give evidence. His statement, from which he (Mr Gattie) would leave out that which would be painful and unpleasant ior Lady Gpnter, contained the sentence: .■“The patience, forbearance and courtesy Shown by dll the police officers concerned, despite constant provocation arid insult, was remarkable.” Mr Du Cann said that with regard to that, possibly if he desired to call evidence a very different complexion ! might be- put on those incidents. However, he would leave it where it was. With regard to the malicious damage charge, Mr Du Cann said Lady Gunter’s case -was that she purposely brobe the window to draw the attention of friends in the other room. “The Bench may think that a highspirited young women like this did get very agitated that night. She is not accustomed to being held by the wrists by persons of the male character.” Mr Du Cann said that if the case had been fought out it would have been strenuously fought.

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