Sentencing delayed by dispute over weapon
Sentencing of a man who had admitted assaults on his mother and stepfather was adjourned today so a disputed facts hearing can be held on whether he took a weapon to their house.
Four days into the trial of Douglas James Archer on charges of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to June Geary, 80, and her husband Arthur Eaton, 72, and theft, Archer pleaded guilty.
Today in the Christchurch District Court his defence counsel Mark Callaghan said Archer, 61, denied that he was armed when he went to the house, and said he had no intention of harming anyone.
But Judge Alistair Garland said that at the trial, Mrs Geary said the baton used in the incident was not in the house before the attack on her.
He said there was a process they must go through in the interests of justice because it would make a critical difference in the sentencing of Archer.
He remanded Archer in custody to a pre-trial conference session on December 5 to set a disputed facts hearing date.
The elderly couple were found injured in their home after the attack in March 2013.
Mrs Geary was beaten with a club, and Mr Eaton’s statement, read to the court as he had since died, said Archer had attacked him with a pair of scissors and a cut-throat razor.
Category: Focus
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