Supreme Court Men On Trial On Robbery Charge (Press, 24 August 1961)

On 24 August 1961, a Supreme Court trial began concerning a robbery and assault case involving a salesman, Vincent Thomas Revell. Revell testified that on 3 July, he was attacked and robbed by three young men while driving along Cashihere Road, near the Princess Margaret Hospital. Initially, Revell had been socialising at the Valley Inn Hotel where he encountered the accused—Peter Charles Yeatman (23), Thomas Ian McGlinchy (23), and William Alexander Gill (26)—inviting them to a party. Revell left the party early due to discomfort with the company and later encountered Yeatman again, who apologised for previous conduct. After a round of drinks paid for by Revell, Yeatman offered him a lift into town. As they drove, Revell sensed danger when the route took an unexpected turn towards Cashmere instead of the city. He was instructed to sit in the back seat while McGlinchy took over driving. Soon after, Yeatman demanded Revell's money, initially threatening him if he did not comply. A struggle ensued in which all three men attacked Revell, kicking and hitting him. In a bid to prevent further violence, Revell yielded £5 to them but was pressed for more, as he had approximately £40. The assailants eventually stopped the vehicle on a deserted road, prompting Revell to pass out amid the ordeal. After regaining his senses, he sought help and managed to reach the Princess Margaret Hospital in a taxi. A local resident, William Thomas Garlick, witnessed a commotion and heard cries for help, seeing Revell later staggering towards the hospital. Witnesses identified the accused as having a similar car to the one involved and observed them the following day near the scene. Revell's belongings, including a scarf and a broken tooth, were discovered in Yeatman's vehicle after the incident. During his testimony, Revell recounted that McGlinchy instructed the others to knockout Revell and described how Yeatman strangled him with a scarf while pressing for more money. The defence attorneys for the accused opted not to call any evidence. Detective evidence during the trial revealed that Yeatman claimed Revell had acted inappropriately towards him, stating he was responsible for throwing Revell out of the car. Similarly, McGlinchy and Gill made statements suggesting that the incident was provoked by Revell's alleged advances. Gill admitted to having been drinking heavily and claimed to have little recollection of the events. The trial concluded with arguments focusing on the culpability of the accused in both the robbery and the assault, with all three facing serious charges as the court prepared for subsequent hearings.

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