MANSLAUGHTER SENTENCE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 12

MANSLAUGHTER SENTENCE

Clark Imprisoned For Two Years

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 8.

Lillian Clark, aged 20, of Ngapara, who was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in the Supreme Court last week, was today sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the Chief Justice (Sir Harold Barrowclough). The case was the sequel to the death of her 8-months-old son, Phillip Geoffrey Skilton, at Ngapara on the night of October 10-11.

Clark showed little emotion and took only two quick glances at the spectators as she was led away from the dock. His Honour explained to Clark the meaning of manslaughter—that she had killed her child by an uni iwful act. The injuries were not the result of an acidental fall. It followed that Clark must have applied some violence, but this could not have been meant to cause injuries or to cause death. She meant to quieten the child. Its thigh was broken and this was reason enough for it crying, but she did not know of this. Trying Circumstances The Chief Justice said he thought that Clark had acted as she did under circumstances very trying to her. He could not say that the act was premeditated. It was the result of a decision hastily taken and was a very unjust punishment as the child could not help crying. He had given the matter long and careful consideration and although Clark had not had any intention to cause death, he must impose a sentence of imprisonment. For Clark, Mr D. L. Woods submitted that there wgs no evidence of exactly how the child’s death occurred. There was no evidence that Clark had picked up an instrument and struck the child with it or that she deliberately picked the child up and banged it against a wall.

Clark was entitled to the view that, in a fit of exasperation and to quieten the child, which was crying, she so roughly and recklessly handled it that the injuries resulted.