Norfolk Islanders

Missed

Assault Trial

From Our Own Correspondent Norfolk island has so : crime at any time that a s case of assault created precedented interest.

On March 25, Austin (“Cu] Tea’ ) Buffet, aged 47, pleaded g to a charge of assaulting Ji Needham, and was sentenced t< months’ imprisonment, two mo of which he had already serv Buffet entered Needham’s gei store on the night of January and, with what a doctor terme blunt instrument,” struck Need four or five times on the head instrument was sufficiently sha] inflict several 4 in. wounds in IS ham’s scalp, and to lop off the of the third finger of his left i Subsequently, local JP’s comm Buffet for trial on a charg malicious wounding, and on M 24 Mr. Justice Simpson flew Canberra to Norfolk Island.

But, according to a Sydney report, “nobody at Canberra the foresight to save public rr by having the trial set dowr hearing on the day after J Simpson and the legal eagles in. Norfolk Island law requi] presiding judge to sign an for the empanelling of a jury requires that jurors receive days’ notice. Because Judge £ son had not signed the order b he left Canberra, the trial —if were to be one—could not be before Tuesday (March 29).”

On March 25 Buffet agree plead guilty to assault if Crown would prefer this char; an alternative to a charg' malicious wounding. On the morning, the charge was dealt by a Court which had been vened almost without the t ledge of anybody living at Nc Island.

During the hearing, counse the defence (Mr. Tony Larkii Sydney) asked Sgt. Alf Gor Nl’s only policeman; “Is it true the accused, at the time of offence, entertained suspicions his wife’s conduct with Neec whether or not those suspi were well founded?”

Sgt. Goulding replied: “From I have heard, yes.” ’

In press interviews, Mrs. I denied that there were any gn for such suspicion. Buffet n said that when he attacked . ham he (Buffet) was emotie overwrought. (The doctor who was sent Sydney to make the medica amination of Needham and gn medical evidence, was Dr. Alex of Port Moresby, wlm is at p: technically on leave in Sydne;