Man For Trial On Indecency Charge (Press, 18 June 1976)
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Summary: Man For Trial On Indecency Charge (Press, 18 June 1976)
A 35-year-old man has been committed to the Supreme Court for trial following allegations of an indecent act with another man in public lavatories on Manchester Street, Christchurch. This decision was made on 17 June 1976, with the man represented by Mr R. F. B. Perry and prosecuted by Detective Sergeant J. C. Crookston. The depositions were heard before Justices of the Peace I. C. Fulford and M. G. Smith. The incident occurred on 22 January 1976, at approximately 1:20 a.m., when Constable Glen Morris Gordon conducted a routine check of the lavatories, which were known to be frequented by homosexuals. During his inspection, he noticed a pile of clothing on the floor of a cubicle that raised his suspicions. Upon tapping on the cubicle door, he heard two male voices respond, further heightening his concerns. Constable Gordon proceeded to the adjacent cubicle, where he looked over the partition and observed the defendant apparently naked while sitting on the toilet. Another man, who was fully dressed but had his fly undone, was standing next to him, with his exposed penis appearing wet. Upon noticing the constable, both men reacted; the standing man attempted to fasten his trousers and subsequently fled after a brief struggle. The defendant was instructed to get dressed and was taken to the Central Police Station. Detective James Louis Marshall interviewed the defendant on 23 March. The defendant claimed not to remember the incident, attributing his memory loss to having been intoxicated that night. He denied removing his clothes and stated he did not recall any other man being in the cubicle with him, asserting that he was not homosexual. The Justices determined that sufficient evidence existed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant. Consequently, he was committed for trial, with a bail set at $200. In connection with this incident, another man was also committed for trial on 19 May 1976.
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