HUSBAND SENT TO GAOL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 14

HUSBAND SENT TO GAOL

Assaulted Baby Daughter (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. March 27. A father suspended his three-month-old baby daughter by the throat, threatening to kill her if his wife took their children from him, the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland was told on Saturday. John Frederick Mackie, aged 29. driver, admitted assaulting the infant before Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., and was gaoled for two months. The police prosecutor (Mr A. R. Mathieson) said the incident occurred about 12.30 a.m. today, after Mackie had spent most of last night drinking and had quarrelled with his wife. The police were called and the woman refused to stay and decided to take their four children with her. As she was about to leave. Mackie picked the baby up from its bed and held it suspended by the throat, saying he would kill it if his wife intended taking it. . The child screamed, but the quick intervention of a policeman, who thought it would be strangled, saved it from any harm. Mackie told the Court he was sorry for what happened but his only reason for his act was to prevent his wife taking the child. The Magistrate: Why take it out on a three-months-old babe? Mackie: I didn’t. I just tried to give the impression. I would never hurt my daughter. The Magistrate: That may have been your idea afterwards, but you were guilty of a serious offence against a helpless baby. You are perhaps fortunate that the charge against you is only common assault.

The Magistrate noted that this was not Mackie’s first conviction for violence. He had previously been sentenced to reformative detention for. assault causjng actual bodily harm.