YOUNG SOLDIER FOUND GUILTY OF DESERTION

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30051, 8 February 1963, Page 3

YOUNG SOLDIER FOUND GUILTY OF DESERTION

A private in the second battalion of the New Zealand Regiment was sentenced to 90 days’ detention when he was found guilty by a court-martial at Burnham yesterday. The accused, Henry Puataata Grace, aged 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge and

was represented by Captain B. P. Wells. The Court also found him guilty on an additional charge of losing, by neglect, Army clothing and property.

The Court was preskied over by Major R. R. Harding. Captain T. N. K. Neate and Captain K. R. Cooke were members, with Major G. C. C. Sandston as judge advocate. Second Lieutenant C. R. H. Dundas conducted the case for the prosecution.

Sergeant W. K. Taurau gave evidence that Grace was not present for his platoon’s roll can on the morning of November 4, and said Grace had not slept in his bed the previous night Grace was found on January 8 under an assumed name at the State sawmills at Conical Hills, Southland. He later admitted to the Army authorities who he really was and that he was an absentee from Burnham.

Captain Wells, for the defence, said it had not been proved that Grace had no intention of returning to the Army. “He was caught up in an inescapable web of circumstances,’* he said. After considering the evidence of the five witnesses for an hour, the Court returned its verdict of guilty on both charges. In mitigation, Captain Wells said accused had been in the Army since July last year. “He didn’t like the Army life, but was told it would cost him £75 to terminate his contract He of course did not have the money, but left just the same,” said Captain Wells.

The sentence and findings of the Court are subject to confirmation by the convening authority.