THE PADDINGTON TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1899, Page 5

THE PADDINGTON TRAGEDY.

KELLY'S SENTENCE

Michael Henry Kelly when brought--tip at the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, to receive sentence for the manslaughter of Maria Ann Flynn, intimated that he had nothing- to say, Mr Acting Justice O'Connor said that although the prisoner had been fotind guilty"of the lesser offence of manslaughter he could not overlook the fact that he had gone to the horise where deceased resided, no doubt with his mind filled with anger and with the . determination of in . some way having;- redress, and that after receiving some provocation — which, however great it was, did not justify him in the taking of life—he inflicted the injuries which resulted in the woman's death. The jury's verdict must be taken to mean that although the prisoner chased the deceased and fired two shots at her he had no intent to kill her. His Honor had, however, to b,ear in mind that a deadly weapon was used in an unlawful way, and that the" death of the woman resulted-from its use. The circumstances ■brought forward in favour of Kelly would be taken into consideration in allotting the punishment, but the sentence.must be commensurate with the gravity of the offence.

Notwithstanding the provocation there was no justification for Kelly's reckless use of. the revolver which, he carried. It would be lamentable for it to be understood that a man might use a deadly weapon in redressing his wrongs, even of the circumstances constituted manslaughter, without, his crime receiving serious punishment. He would, therefore," with a due regard to all the circumstances, sentence the accused to seven years' imprisonment. . .