Borstal Boys Sentenced

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 3

Borstal Boys Sentenced

(N.Z. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, March 20. Four borstal inmates were sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court today to varying terms of imprisonment, and one to borstal training. They appeared for sentence on charges of car conversion and breaking and entering. Joshua Paul Dixon, Andy Tango, and Frederick Karl Rosel had been convicted for unlawfully converting a car on February 10. Dixon and Tango were convicted for converting a car on February 6. Mark James Waka, Te-lwi-Toa Kalohi, Tango, Rosel and Dixon were convicted for converting a car on February 6. All five pleaded guilty to

breaking and entering the Te Anau cafeteria and committing theft. Dixon and Tango were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on conversion charges and six months' imprisonment on the breaking and entering charge. Rosel was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for conversion and six months for breaking and entering. Waka received 12 months’ gaol for conversion and six months for breaking and entering. All sentences are concurrent. Kalohi was sentenced to Borstal training. Counsel, Mr T. L. Savage, said the offences, committed while the youths were members of a Borstal working party in the Hollyford valley, were more in the nature of an irresponsible adventure than a planned crime. All the youths, except one, were under 21.

The Magistrate, Mr W. M. Willis, S.M., said the offences occurred when the youths were in camp in the Hollyford valley where normal security measures were not in force. The youths were due for release and the camp was an opportunity to see how they would react to a small amount of freedom in the absence of full security. He said the crimes committed were a flagrant breach of trust imposed on the youths by the officers in charge of them. They had, for a time, involved other inmates in suspicion. The parole board consid ered the camp a way to reestablish inmates due for release in the community. It could well be that the behaviour of those in the dock would exclude others from similar endeavours, and lower the chances of eventual rehabilitation.