Magistrate’s Court Charges Adjourned Until1 After... (Press, 21 May 1963)

In the Magistrate's Court on 20 May 1963, various charges were presented, with several cases involving theft and other criminal activities. Two soldiers, Bryce Alan Carson (21) and Dennis Eric Angove (19), faced three joint charges of theft. They had entered three cars in Oamaru on 4 May and stolen items valued at £111 1s 9d, including shotguns, ammunition, and a transistor radio. Their lawyer stated that they would receive 60 days’ detention for being absent without leave from the Army, leading to the adjournment of their case until 19 August. William John Provis (20), a mill hand, was remanded on bail until 27 May for sentencing on multiple theft and fraud charges. He pleaded guilty to stealing £17 and a cheque form on 1 February at Kenepuru Sound and obtaining goods worth £4 3s 16d. He also faced a burglary charge from 3 May. Robin Dean Turner and Ivan Watene, both 21, were convicted of unlawfully taking a car worth £100 on 11 May. They were remanded until 24 May for sentencing after pleading guilty. The car was reportedly taken from outside the owner’s home, and police reported that Watene was involved in a collision with this car later that day. Eric Allan Blackburn and John Winston O’Connor, both 17, received fines of £25 each after pleading guilty to unlawfully taking a car valued at £100 in April. The vehicle was found in their possession with other youths, who were set to appear in the Children's Court. Violet Watson, aged 48, was placed on a year’s probation for seven charges of false pretences. The Magistrate noted that her offences, which involved obtaining goods charged to others’ accounts, had a medical background, and she had never offended before. Charges against Gordon Alexander Gillespie, 61, for assaulting his wife were dismissed when she declined to give evidence. Denis John Houlihan, 19, was discharged without conviction for stealing two cases of property valued at £1, as the Magistrate found no real criminal intent. Other charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence, including those against Stanley and Malcolm Johnston for using obscene language. Multiple defendants were remanded on bail for various charges, including Robin Paul Slesser for being a rogue and vagabond, and Charles Robert Sleeman for obtaining credit by fraud and other pretences. Several other defendants charged with various crimes, including drink-driving and theft, were also remanded. The court process continued as various cases were presented, highlighting issues of theft, fraud, and other criminal activities in the community.

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