JUDGE’S CRITICISM OF COUNSEL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 9

JUDGE’S CRITICISM OF COUNSEL

ADDRESS “ APPALLING RUBBISH ” (New Zealand Press Association) Aftov, r + AUCKLAND, May 26. After listening to counsel for 20 EL n T? e r in Supreme Court to-day, (ije addre ss that he would adjourn the Court for 10 minutes belore passing sentence. The prisoner was David Camwell Robinson aged 26, a clerk, who was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with hard labour for assault with intent to commit rape. For a further offence of being a rogue and vagabond, he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour the terms to be concurrent. Counsel for the defence (Mr G Skelton) said that since Robinson married there had been an improvement in his conduct. Commenting that Robinson was appearing for sentence for offences which took place after his marriage his Honour said he was shocked bv counsels remark. “I shudder to think what he was like before that improvement,” his Honour said. Counsel said Robinson’s wife had given birth to a boy and handed a letter to the Court seeking lenienev for Robinson. Mr Skelton said the prisoner had wished to be a doctor and when drunk would think he was one. After counsel had continued briefly, his Honour commented: ‘‘This is tiie most appalling rubbish.” In passing sentence, his Honour told the prisoner he needed a lesson which would bring him to realise what it meant to “ruthlessly seek achievement of your own ends.”