MAORIS SENTENCED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 171, 22 July 1935, Page 8

MAORIS SENTENCED.

BREAKING AND ENTERING. TE AWAMUTU OFFENCE. Two Maoris, John Tipene and Paratene Mita Hotene, were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour by Jlr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court this morning for breaking and entering a ehop at Te Awamutu on July 15 last, and committing theft. Tipene had nothing to say, but Hotene protested that he had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, but not to theft. Mr. V. H. Hubble, who represented the Crown, explained that in statements Hotene said he broke into the shop, but did not take anything away. When charged, however, lie apparently pleaded guilty. The only possible alteration that would have been made to the charge would have been to make it one of breaking and entering with attempt to commit a crime. His Honor said he would deal with the prisoner as though he did not take any of the property, but assisted in tho offence. Both men had bad records. In 1931 each was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour for breaking and entering. His Honor looked on both the accused as equally guilty in the present case, and both would receive the same sentence. Each in view of his record would be sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour.