GAOL SENTENCES ON MAN AND WIFE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 9

GAOL SENTENCES ON MAN AND WIFE

(New Zeeland AUCKLAND, May 26. A sentence at four years' gaol was today passed on Trig Johnson, aged 28. a farmhand, by Mr Justice Turner in the Supreme Court at Auckland when he appeared for sentence on charges relating to the death of his six-year-old son at Mataknna in January. Johnson’s wife, the dead boy's stepmother, was gaoled for six months.

Johnson had been found guilty by a jury of a charge that with intent to do grievous bodily harm he did actual bodily harm to the boy and another charge of wilfully exposing the child in a manner likely to cause injury to its health. Mrs Johnson had also been found guilty on the second charge. Passing sentence, his Honour said it was one of the worst and most distressing cases he had heard since he had been on the Bench. Mr J. Hall said Johnson had a two-sided nature. He was quiet, almost shy, yet showed violence when in drink. Johnson took full responsibility for the tragedy, said Mr Hall. Mr B. F. K. Preddle said Mrs Johnspn's offence had been one ot omission rather than commission. She had not embarked on a course of ill-treatment towards the dead boy and was

Press AaesetstMss) contrite far what happened. Johnson was sentenced to two years' gaol on each charge, the terms to be cumulative. The Judge, dealing with the charge of wilful exposure. said that the little boy had boon beaten to death by his seven-year-old brother just outride the room occupied by the prisoners who had done nothing and had not attended to the boy in any way. He told Johnson he regretted the maximum for the offence was two years.