Four Years Gaol For Attempted Murder

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32031, 4 July 1969, Page 18

Four Years Gaol For Attempted Murder

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, July 3.

Two Pongaroa men who were found guilty by a jury in Palmerston North last week of the attempted murder of a policeman at Eketahuna on April 28 were today each sentenced to four years imprisonment by Mr Justice Roper.

They are Roderick James Murphy, aged 19, a truck driver, and Kahu Henare Power, aged 20, a shearer. Murphy, who was represented by Mr J. H. Williams, was convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment on

'four other charges, all to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to three months imprisonment for unlawfully converting a motor-car, one month on a charge of theft, and 12 months on each of two charges of burglary. Power, who was represented by Mr K. H. Mason, was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment on five other charges, also to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to three months imprisonment for unlawfully getting into a motor-car, and for unlawfully converting a tractor, one month for one charge of theft, and 12 months on each of two charges of burglary. His Honour said it was obvious from the probation reports that both men came from respected families. It was obvious that drink was the downfall of both men because neither had appeared before the Court until a year or so ago.

Contraband Found. Customs inspectors found 27 transistor radios, worth about $7OO, in the hold of the phosphate ship Lilliana in Auckland yesterday. The Lilliana arrived on Wednesday from the Christmas Islands. — (PA.)