May 03, 2013

Suppression clamp on injuring case

By David Clarkson. A suppression clamp has come down on the case of two men alleged to have seriously injured a 55-year-old man, at a time when police say a more serious charge may be laid.

The pair, Shay Barry Webster, 20, of Waltham, and Jason Alistor Barr, a 42-year-old unemployed Woolston man, were originally charged with wounding Terrance Martin Smith with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on Anzac Day.

Webster, 20, of Waltham, today appeared before Judge Jane Farish at a closed court hearing in the Christchurch District Court where the media were excluded and all details were suppressed. Reporters were later told that he had been further remanded in custody to May 24.

Barr was called in a later session before Judge Robert Murfitt, where the police prosecutor Bronwen Skea asked for the withdrawal of the injuring charge, after a Crimes Act assault charge had been laid.

She asked for a blanket suppression on reporting of all details but Judge Murfitt said he would allow the media to publish that the original charge had been withdrawn because a more serious charge may be pending.

Barr was also remanded in custody to May 24.