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Allegations
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Photographing a young
suspect wearing a sign saying "I belong to Senior Sergeant
Solomona" was a typical police station joke across New Zealand, the
Papakura District Court heard yesterday. Sergeant John Nelson
told the court he had seen similar stunts in numerous police stations, but
said not everyone would get the joke. "The humour would
not be understood by non-police officers." Mr Nelson was giving
evidence at the defended hearing of Senior Sergeant Anthony Solomona. The South Auckland
officer faces four charges of assault and one of assault with a weapon after
allegedly beating and threatening three complainants, in separate incidents,
in February and March last year. A fifth assault charge
- laid after Solomona allegedly left teenager Angelo Turner handcuffed to a
fence while he attended an armed offenders squad callout - was withdrawn
after Judge Bruce Davidson ruled there was no case to answer. Under cross-examination
by Solomona's lawyer, John Haigh, QC, Mr Nelson said it was not easy to
explain why such jokes appealed to police officers, and was loath to do so
when invited to try. "I don't think I
can explain the humour in two sentences. "It is a matter of
police culture. You get accustomed to it as your time in the police
increases." A stream of police
officers gave evidence yesterday, as the prosecution case drew to a close. The officer in charge
of the investigation into Solomona, Detective Inspector Keith Brady, gave
evidence of a search warrant executed at Solomona's Wiri police station. Items recovered
included photocopied notebook entries relating to the complainant Richard
Southon. It contained his personal details, but no record of Solomona's
dealings with him, the court was told. Black leather gloves
and a notebook were later handed over. Mr Brady said Solomona
refused a number of invitations to speak with police in relation to the
investigation. He had requested to see
the police file of the investigation, but Mr Brady refused, the court heard. Solomona later gave
police a written statement in which he "categorically" denied any
of the alleged assaults. The defence case is expected to begin today. The hearing is likely to conclude late next week. |
