Sentence Reduced In Manslaughter Appeal

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 24

Sentence Reduced In Manslaughter Appeal

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 5. The Court of Appeal today heard and unanimously allowed an appeal against a sentence of four years imprisonment brought by Norman James Slattery in respect of his conviction of the crime of manslaughter.

Slattery was tried in the Supreme Court at Auckland, for the crime of murder, to which he pleaded not guilty, and was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, on December 13, 1967. Mr Justice Richmond was the sentencing judge. The evidence showed that Slattery and his girlfriend concealed her pregnancy and the birth of their child, which occurred in the house of the girl’s parents. The evidence established that the child died as a result of the action of the appellant when he tripped and feU while carrying the child. The unanimous judgment

of the Court allowing the appeal was delivered by Mr Justice McCarthy, who said that the circumstances under which the child was born were very unusual. He said that great tension was placed on both Slattery and his girlfriend. The Court, after consideration of all the circumstances, but not forgetting the need for deterrence, had come to the conclusion that the sentence ought to be reduced from four years to three years imprisonment, he said. The Court comprised Mr Justice North (president), Mr Justice Turner and Mr Justice McCarthy.