Appeals Against Sentence

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30063, 22 February 1963, Page 3

Appeals Against Sentence

A sentence of three years’ Imprisonment imposed ■ by a Te Awamutu magistrate on June 12 on Peter John Joseph Turner, aged 19, a workman, on a charge of escaping from lawful custody and for other offences was quashed by Mr Justice Wilson in the Supreme Court yesterday and a sentence of two years' imprisonment substituted. Mr W. A. Wilson, for the appellant, said all the offences were part and parcel of the same escapade. He asked his Honour to take into account the age of Turner. A shorter term of imprisonment would be more appropriate, he said. Mr N. W, Williamson, for the Crown submitted the sentence was not clearly excessive. At the time of the offences Turner was under Borstal training and had served about seven months, he said. His Honour said a substantial period of imprisonment was dearly indicated. Having regard to his age and the minor part Turner had played, he considered three years was excessive. 18 MONT”JS’ GAOL A sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment imposed on John Peter Gilchrist, aged 22, a workman, in the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch on January 21 for burglary and unlawfully getting into a motor-' - ir was confirmed by his Honour. Mr R. L. Kerr submitted for the appellant the sentence of 18 months had been

somewhat harsh when ail the circumstances were taken into account. He said the appellant was an intelligent person but somewhat I insecure. In dismissing the appeal his Honour said he could find no harshness or inappropriateness in the sentence. Gilchrist had failed to respond to child supervision, i probation or Borstal training i and there was nothing left but imprisonment. BORSTAL TRAINING His Honour confirmed a , sentence of Borstal training ; imposed by a Christchurch magistrate on Hawea Edwin . Taka, aged 19, a timber , worker, on December 21 on charges of theft of bicycles. His Honour said Taka had , already had two years’ probation and the offences were committed while he was still ’ on probation. The learned magistrate had no real alternative, he said. Decrees Nisi In Divorce

The following decrees nisi in divorce were granted by Mr Justice Wilson in the Supreme Court yesterday:— Separation Order.—Gladys Millar (Mr G. S. Brockett) against Donald Millar. Separation Agreement— Catherine Margaret Morrison (Mr D. H. Hicks) against Noel Francis Morrison. Adultery.—Maurice Selwyn Lee (Mr A. F. Shaw) against Rana Margaret Lee and Brian Robert Lake, named as corespondent