LENIENCY SHOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 138, 13 June 1934, Page 8

LENIENCY SHOWN.

EXCEPTIONAL CASE. FIXE! OF £50 IMPOSED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Owing to the unusual circumstances of the case, a lenient view was taken by Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court to-day, when Ivor George Bryan, a tyre salesman, appeared for sentence, having been found guilty of negligent driving of a motor car, causing death. Mr. J. F. Strang, for accused, submitted that Bryan had already suffered sufficient punishment disproportionate to the breach of the law, which might have been separated from tragic consequences. His Honor agreed that the case was exceptional, and commented favourably on the truthful manner in which accused gave his evidence, when there was a strong temptation to colour it in his favour. Another factor was that the period of negligence was very short. He had also given the greatest weight to the very strong recommendation to leniency made by the jury. However, he emphasised that no act of negligence imperilling the lives of people on the highway was slight. Accused was fined £50, in default three months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, £13 14/.