Magistrate’s Court Reserved Decision On Gaming... (Press, 20 August 1976)

On 20 August 1976, the Magistrate's Court reserved its decision regarding charges against three men accused of running an illegal gaming house and selling liquor. The defendants, Robert Stanley Tuck (29), Trevor Malcolm Rosewarne (31), and Kevin James Wright (27), all pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Detective T. A. Lewis testified about attending an event on 14 May, where he purchased a ticket for a "social evening" at a hall on Marshaland Road. Upon entering, Tuck collected his ticket. Inside, Detective Lewis observed around 150 people gathered and went to the bar, where Rosewarne served him whisky. Later, he returned and was served by Wright. At approximately 10 p.m., he received a raffle ticket linked to a planned lesbian act, as well as witnessing indecent films and games of "unders and overs" being played at the back of the hall. He indicated that Wright assisted in running these games. As the evening progressed toward midnight, the police executed a raid on the hall. Detective R. W. Thurston explained that he had cautiously observed the scene through a broken side window before police entered to gather evidence. He noted a bar setup with a brown bag containing tickets labelled for the social event, with Tuck's address on the reverse. Thurston identified Rosewarne as the bartender serving alcohol during this time. Detective R. Bruce also testified, stating that he found items in Wright's car, including cash, a plastic container with dice, and an "unders and overs" mat. Wright defended his presence by claiming he arrived at 9.15 p.m. and subsequently volunteered to help at the bar. However, part of Detective Bruce's testimony was dismissed as Wright had not been cautioned during questioning. Mr. S. G. Erber, representing Rosewarne and Tuck, contended that the prosecution had not demonstrated sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against his clients. He argued that no witnesses testified that Rosewarne had engaged in conducting illegal games. Erber stated he would defer calling his clients to testify until there was clarity regarding the charges they faced. Similarly, Mr. G. Lascelles, representing Wright, voiced that he believed the prosecutorial evidence fell short of establishing a prima facie case against his client. Magistrate W. F. Brown adjourned the case, indicating that he would issue his decision at a later date.

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