Laurence George ORCHARD

Constable charged

SYDNEY, Monday. — A 22-year-old probationary constable will appear in Burwood Court tomorrow after the wounding of a *37-year-old senior constable at Ashfield Police Station early today.

A CIB spokesman said tonight the probationary constable was charged by police with shooting with intent to murder.

The injured policeman, Senior Constable Laurence Orchard, was discharged from Western Suburbs Hospital late today after having a rifle bullet removed from his right forearm.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article107915539.txt

*  If the age of 37, in this article, is correct – then this article refers to a different Laurence Orchard because, in 1970, Laurence George ORCHARD would have been 40 years old.

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Shooting charge

SYDNEY, Tuesday. —

A suspended probationary constable charged with shooting Senior Constable Laurence Orchard at Ashfield Police Station yesterday appeared in Central Court today.

He is Karl Herman Kemper, 21, of Holden Street. Ashfield. Kemper was charged with shooting Constable Orchard with intent to murder him, and on another charge with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Mr W. Lewer, SM, remanded Kemper to appear on April 13.

Five-year bond for shot at policeman

SYDNEY, Friday. — . A former probationary constable was convicted and released on a five-year bond today when he pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding a fellow police officer with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Mr Karl Herman Kemper, 21, baker, of Ryde, masked and holding a rifle, pushed open a back door of the Ashfield police station early on March 23 last year and confronted Senior Constable Orchard.

Mr Kemper then pointed the rifle at Constable Orchard and advanced towards him, Sydney Quarter Sessions was told today.

The rifle fired and the two men grappled.

Abrasions to face

As a result of the struggle Constable Orchard received abrasions to the face and a back injury and was wounded in the arm by a ricocheting bullet.

During the struggle Mr Kemper dropped a loaded pistol on to the floor.

The pistol was identified later as belonging to Mr Kemper, Detective Sergeant F. Marshall told the court.

Police then went to Mr Kemper‘s flat and although he feigned sleep, the radiator of his car was still warm, and his shoes were wet. Sergeant Marshall said.

Mr Kemper had at first denied the attack but later had admitted it.

His only explanation was that he intended playing a practical joke on his flatmate, a Constable Ohmsen.

Judge Robson, sentencing Mr Kemper, said he believed that it was more than a practical joke.