SUPREME COURT Four-year gaol term for attempted murder

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 21

SUPREME COURT Four-year gaol term for attempted murder

Four years imprisonment was imposed on Trevor James Garlick, aged 34, a labourer, when he appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Roper in the Supreme Court yesterday on a charge of attempted murder of William Francis Hale on May 30. Garlick, who was represented by Mr E. T. Higgins, pleaded not guilty earlier this week to alternative charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The jury found him guilty of; attempted murder. Mr W. S. Smith appeared' for the prosecution which called 13 witnesses. Evidence was given that i Garlick stabbed Mr Hale; with a knife during a fight which arose over a woman; in a house in- Wildberry' Street, Woolston. Mr Hale!

I suffered stab wounds in the ribs and left arm. Mr Higgins said that Garilick suffered from a bad [temper but in recent years [he had made a real effort to i control it. His previous offences did not make an [enviable record but he had made a determined attempt [to improve himself. He had paid his fines and was a hard worker.

Until the present offence Garlick had been employed 'by the Christchurch Drainage Board. His main prob- ■ lems, apart from liquor, were disqualified driving and assault When in gaol he was a model prisoner. I There had been a reconciliation between Garlick and Mrs Lewis and it appeared that there would be some possibility of their getting married after he was re-

leased from prison and that he would settle down. Mr Higgins said that he realised that a term of imimposed but he asked his Honour to take into account the facts that Garlick was intoxicated, subjected to provocation and his bad temper. “He still says that he never intended to kill the complainant. Garlick is a quiet, sincere person when he has not had liquor,” Mr prisonment would have to be Higgins said. From the dock Garlick said that his earlier life was now a closed door and that liquor had played a big part in his offences. He realised that his temper was his main problem and that he had to learn to control it and that the only way to do that was not to drink. He intended to marry Mrs Lewis and they both realised that they had made mistakes but were determined to see it through. “Prisoner at the bar, the maximum sentence for the offence of attempted murdei of which you have been convicted, is one of 14 years imprisonment,” said his Honour. You should be thankful that the probation officer seems to have some confidence in your ability eventually to make good, although I must confess, having had a look at your record, that I don’t altogether share that confidence. “You certainly seem to have overcome your propensity for dishonest offending, and the probation officer thinks you have turned over a new leaf so far as serious traffic offences are concerned. You have a number of convictions, 10 of which involve violence. “It would not be going too far to say that unless you controlled either your violent temper or your drinking that almost inevitably you would have faced, sooner or later, a charge such as this or even a more serious one,” his Honour said.

"To some extent you were provoked on this night, but not by your victim. You were affected by liquor but can hardly expect concessions on that score as you have long recognised that liquor diminishes your self control and leads to violence.’ “This was a determined attack with a knife after two earlier skirmishes, and the wound you inflicted could have had fatal consequences. “I must take notice that the probation officer, who has dealt with you for many years, knows you better than I and I will give you full benefit for the favourable report he has made on you,” his Honour said.