IMMIGRANT’S SENTENCE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 14

IMMIGRANT’S SENTENCE

Court Rejects Appeal

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 11.

The Court of Appeal today dismissed an appeal by Rangel! Alexander Angeloff, aged 22, a workman, against a sentence of three years’ imprisonment imposed on him by Mr Justice North at Auckland on February 15, after Angeloff had been found guilty on a charge of wounding with ihtent to cause grievous bodily harm. The Court which heard the appeal comprised Mr Justice Finlay, Mr Justice Henry, and Mr Justice McCarthy. Mr M. Robinson, of Auckland, appeared for Angeloff, and the Crown was represented by Mr W. R. Birks, of Wellington. Mr Robinson said that the appellant was a Bulgarian, who had arrived in New Zealand in 1951. In October, 1956, at Te Teko, two men assaulted Angeloff and left him lying on the ground. Angeloff, said counsel, got up and rushed to his car, took a spring-knife from the glove box, and stabbed one of the men. Evidence at the trial showed that the man had received four ’ stab wounds, one of them serious, and that except for expert surgical attention death might have followed. Brutal Attack Mr Robinson argued that the sentence was excessive. The attack on Angeloff was brutal and unprovoked, and Angeloff had no memory of getting the knife out of the car. He should not be penalised, said counsel, for obeying what was to him, a Bulgarian, a natural impulse. After hearing short submissions from Mr Birks, the Court dismissed the appeal. Mr Justice Finlay said that the deterrent aspect must weigh heavily in such cases. Although selfdefence was lawful, the Court must give such a sentence as would deter persons from attacking their assailants when it was no longer a matter of self-defence.