June 17, 2008

Yelling doesn't work on elderly defendant

Judge John Strettell yelled loudly enough to startle everyone in court, but it had no effect on the 85-year-old man standing in the dock.

William John Dehart apologised politely but said he just could not hear.

So the judge asked duty solicitor Lee-Lee Heah to explain to him in detail what his terms of bail were.

He has been charged with breaching a protection order taken out against him by a woman in her 60s.

Police are alleging he was seen loitering near the woman?s house in Papanui on Saturday.

Police prosecutor Al Manco said the police would not oppose bail for the elderly man, but Judge Strettell gave him a final warning that he might not get bail if it happened again.

He has to live at his flat in Harewood Road.

He must not contact the woman.

And he is forbidden to go into the Papanui street where she lives.

He has been remanded without plea to June 30.