GIRL MURDERERS’ SENTENCE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 10

GIRL MURDERERS’ SENTENCE

Decision On Place Of Detention » TALKS TODAY AT WELLINGTON

Consultations on the question of separating T’auline Yvonne Parker and Juliet Marion Hulme, who were found guilty on Saturday of the murder of Parker’s mother, Honora Mary Parker, will be held today by the Secretary of Justice (Mr S. T: Barnett) with psychiatrists and physicians. Mr Barnett, who is also ControllerGeneral of Prisons, gave this informa-' tion in a telephone conversation with “The Press” last evening. Mr Barnett said that the questions of the place of detention for the girls and their health would also be discussed. Recommendations would then be made to the Minister of Justice (Mr T. C. Webb) as to where the girls could be detained.

Under Section 5 of the Capital Punishment Act. 1950, relating to persons under 18, Parker and Hulme were sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure. A person sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s pieasure, according to the act shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Minister of Justice may direct. A person detained pursuant to the directions of the Minister of Justice under this section shall, while so detained, be deemed to be in legal custody: This means that a person to whom the section applies does not necessarily have to ’be* detained in a prison or Borstal institution. At present there are three institutions under the control of the Prisons Department where Parker and Huhne could be detained. _ They are Paparua Prison, near Christchurch, the Auckland Prison at Mount Eden, and the Arohata women’s Borstal institution at Porirua, near Wellington. Under Section 5 of the act the Minister of Justice may at any time discharge on licence any person detained pursuant to his directions. The licence shall contain such conditions as the Minister may direct, and may at any time be revoked or varied by nim. Where a licence under this section has been revoked the person to whom the licence relates shall return to such place as the Minister of Justice m_y direct. Failure to obey this condition may result in the person being arrested without warrant and taken to the place.