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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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A Marlborough police
officer will go to trial in August to face a charge of assaulting a child. The officer, whose name
has been suppressed, pleaded not guilty to the charge after a depositions
hearing in Blenheim District Court on Monday and yesterday. During the hearing,
Justices of the Peace Gregory Weake and Errol Hadfield heard that the officer
had hit the child in the stomach with a closed fist and pulled on the child's
arm. The assault allegedly
took place between December 16 and 23 last year. The officer has been
stood down from duties since first being charged early last month. The child told the
court on Monday that the off-duty officer had become angry with him. The child was allegedly
hit in the solar plexus, grabbed by the arm and pushed to the ground. Defence lawyer Gary
Sawyer asked how the child knew what the solar plexus was, with the reply
that it had been taught in a karate class. Crown lawyer Glen
Marshall also questioned the child's mother and she said she did not see the
officer hit the child, but did see him grab him by the arm and throw him to
the ground. The mother said she did
not hear the argument due to a chainsaw being used nearby. After considering the
evidence, the JPs decided there was a case to answer. The police officer has
been remanded on bail and will appear in Blenheim District Court on August 23
for trial. |
