Three Years’ Gaol On Injury Charge

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31376, 23 May 1967, Page 12

Three Years’ Gaol On Injury Charge

A term of three years’ imprisonment was imposed on Hugh Neville Stubbs, aged 19, a freezing worker (Mr M. J. Glue), when he appeared, for sentence before Mr Justice Macarthur in the Supreme Court yesterday on a charge of injuring John Hokianga at Little River on March 24 with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Stubbs had previously pleaded guilty to the charge before Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, who had declined jurisdiction and committed him to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr Glue said the assault, without exaggeration, was a dreadful offence, and the prisoner was fortunate that its outcome was not worse. The act was Incomprehensible and marked a downward progression in the prisoner’s behaviour.

“He is well spoken, Is obviously intelligent, and has the advantage of an excellent home. I can only ask for what leniency the Court can give,” Mr Glue said.

He said the prisoner was sincerely contrite for what he had done.

“This young man has a Jekyll and Hyde personality and the unfortunate side shows when he is in liquor. Liquor is apparently the only reason that can be advanced in this case,” Mr Glue said. Mr C. M. Roper, for the Crown, said extensive police inquiries had failed to reveal any reason or motive for the offence, apart from the consumption of liquor.

His Honour said the circumstances of the assault were grave indeed. “It was a positively brutal assault in which you used this metal wrench, causing serious head injuries, including a fractured skull, to your victim. His future, unhappily, is still uncertain. “The offence is aggravated by the fact that you left your victim on the roadside where he lay for a period of several hours,” his Honour said.