ASSAULT ADMITTED BY MAN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24535, 7 April 1945, Page 4

ASSAULT ADMITTED BY MAN

MAGISTRATE DECLINES TO SENTENCE

DEPOSITIONS TO BE TAKEN (P.A.) ' AUCKLAND, April 6. Stating he thought it would be wrong for him to deal’with the case, Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., In the Magistrate’s Court, declined to sentence Douglas Wright, aged 36, a labourer, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a girl aged three years. Detective-Sergeant Aplln said the child involved lived In Freeman's Bay. During her mother’s absence she was left in the care of a sister aged 12. During the afternoon a woman noticed the three-year-old rirl sheltering from the rain In the door <h a warehouse near Victoria Park;' accused was seen talking 'to the child and later to take her into Victoria Park, where there are some disused Army huts. The woman followed the accused and the child but lost sight of them. . Seeking assistance, the woman found Wright and the child behind one of the huts. Wright immediately ran, away, but was chased by the woman, who eventually got the driver of a van to detain him. The little girl was not injured, but it was -only prompt action taken by the woman that probably saved the child from a very nasty experience, added Mr ApUn. Wright had rather a formidable list of previous. convictions. ■ He was discharged from prison on licence on February 6. • Wright had nothing to say. “I think It would be wrong for me to deal with this case," -said Mr Luxford. "There is power for the Court to decline to deal with it. On the facts as stated, I think it would be wrong to let this man go with two months* imprisonment, which is the maximum: sentence for suck an offence.” ■ . The Magistrate remanded accused until Thursday next, .when depositions will be taken for the purpose of having Wright dealt with by the Supreme Coprt. .