GAOL TERM REDUCED
Safe-Blower’s Appeal
(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 29.
Mr Justice Greeson today varied a sentence of three years’ imprisonment imposed on James Black, aged 34, a driver, on three charges of burglary and cne of theft to one of 18 months' imprisonment.
His Honour said that, in the ordinary way, the Court had no sympathy whatever tor safe-blowers, and persons defected blowing safes were sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment. “But I am disposed to think that there is some degree of mental instability here,” he said. “I have now before me something which the magistrate did not: a report from a well-known psychiatrist in which he diagnoses positive mental illness.
“I think there is room for the view that these offences took place when Black was going through some degree of mental crisis.” His Honour cancelled a .recommendation for Black’s deportation at the completion of his sentence, and said the authorities should consider the question of deportation compassionately in the light of Black's family circumstances on his discharge from prison.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 13
Word Count
174GAOL TERM REDUCED Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 13
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