9 YOUTHS CONVICTED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 12

9 YOUTHS CONVICTED

Girl Under 16 Years

(N.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 21. Nine of 11 defendants were convicted by Mr A. W. Yortt, S.M.. on charges of having sexual intercourse with a girl over 12 years and under 16 years. Similar charges against two other men were dismissed.

Earlier, in the Children’s Court, the Magistrate had fined three youths £lO each on similar offences. What the court had heard was far from pleasant, the Magistrate said. However, it had happened before and no doubt would happen again. In view of the evidence and the youth of most of the offenders, he was reluctant to enter convictions. However, some of the young persons concerned showed a callous disregard for moral standards. All the charges related to the same girl and occurred from the end of June to October 16 of this year when the girl was aged from 15 years two months to 15 years six months.

One youth was fined £l5 on a first charge and convicted and discharged on the other two; five other young men were fined £lo<- each; the seventh was fined £l5 on a first charge and convicted and discharged on four others; the eighth youth was fined £l5; and the charge against the ninth was amended to one of attempted sexual intercourse and he was fined £lO.