IN GAOL FIFTEEN YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 304, 24 December 1929, Page 10

IN GAOL FIFTEEN YEARS.

MAN MAY BE RELEASED.

VICTIM PLEADS FOR HIM.

CABINET TO REVIEW CASES

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, Dcccmber 20.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. J. R. Lee, received a remarkable letter this week from a man who had been the victim of an attempted murder 15 years ago, pleading that the youth convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime should be released. Serious consideration is being given the letter by the Minister, and it is probable that Cabinet will review the circumstances of the case and decide to release the man.

The man offered to find employment for the youth, now grown to manhood, when he was released. It lias been revealed, said the Minister, that there aie several men now in the New South Wales gaols serving life sentences who have been in gaol for similar offences, and who bore excellent characters before they were convicted. Consideration will be given these cases by the Government with a view to modifying their sentences. Though sentenced for life, it has been thought by the Minister that they would be released automatically after 20 years, but several of the men have been in for longer than tliat term. Reports from the gaols on the conduct of the three cases to be reviewed by Cabinet indicate that their behaviour has been highly satisfactory and all have learned lucrative trades while in confinement.

The Government's decision in the matter will be made before Christmas.