By ROBERT LINNEHAN | The Haddonfield Sun
A local couple appeared in a rights hearing this past Monday at the Haddonfield Municipal Court in regard to several charges stemming from an alleged June 16 alcohol gathering.
Douglas and Martha Oswald appeared in court with their attorney Matthew S. Wolf, facing alleged charges of hosting an alcohol gathering, maintaining a nuisance and obstruction of justice. Haddonfield Police maintain that on June 30 the Oswalds — and a relative, Louis Goettelmann — hosted a party where a number of juveniles were drinking.
The court case will be heard in the Haddon Heights Municipal Court system instead of in Haddonfield’s at the behest of Wolf. He would not comment as to why he or the Oswalds requested the court case be held in Haddon Heights.
In regard to the charges, Wolf said for the record there were no minors being served alcohol at the function.
“The Oswalds were having a birthday party for an 80-year-old grandparent. She will testify if necessary. This was not a high school graduation party or an underage drinking party of any kind. Alcohol was not being served to minors,” he wrote in an e-mail when asked for comment. “Not one single minor or student was even alleged by the police to have engaged in any kind of alcohol use in this case. The Oswalds look forward to clearing their name when the case goes to trial in Haddon Heights.”
