Ten Years’ Gaol For ‘Savages’

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 11

Ten Years’ Gaol For ‘Savages’

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

SYDNEY, August 30.

Three men who “behaved like savages” in an attack on a girl, aged 16, were each sentenced to 10 years’ gaol today.

Sentencing them in Newcastle Court, Mr Justice Brereton said mass rape was disturbingly prevalent and was disproportionately so in the Newcastle district.

He warned any men with a mind to commit similar offences that the penalty would increase, and would continue to increase in severity. In sentencing the three men, he said: “If they think the sentence I am about to impose is a savage one—although I regard it in the circumstances as lenient—they will have plenty of time to reflect in gaol on the fact they behaved like savages.”

The men are Wayne James , Dick, aged 24, a painter, An- . thony Bede Slusher, aged 24, ’ a builder’s labourer, and Lind--1 say Glen Borham, aged 20, i unemployed. Mr Justice Brereton speci-

fled that they serve a nonparole period of six years. A jury last night convicted the men of having raped the girl in Bushland on February 24.

The Judge said there was an element of ruthless indifference in the offence which had shocked him.

He said he could find no basis to discriminate between the three when he imposed the sentence.