Prison term for wounding girl

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34089, 28 February 1976, Page 3

Prison term for wounding girl

(.VI. T'ress Association) BLENHEIM, February 27. Peter John Martin, aged IS, formerly of Nelson, was sentenced to prison for three years and a half when he appeared in the Supreme Court at Blenheim today for sentence on a charge jof wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Rosalie Georgina Tito, I aged 19. of Cashel Street. ; Christchurch, was sentenced io borstal naming on a

jlesser charge of assault with . lintent to‘injure arising from I the same incident. Earlier this week, a jury found lhe pair not guilty on I ' charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, but guilty ■ , on the lesser charges. They arose from a journey,' ’ between Christchurch and 1 . Picton about January 10 in a car belonging to the com- • plainant, Miss Doreen Anne • Sykes. The two were ai rested at; 1 ■the Picton ferry terminal after Miss Sykes emerged bruised and blood-spattered, from the boot of the car. ; Evidence was given during ti I the trial of an unusual sex-’ ,'ual relationship, between the; . parties, while ' Martin had 1 admitted being homosexual, i Sentencing Manin today,

iMr Justice Beattie said: I Those who think about, homosexual law reform should well consider the plight of this youth." Martin had gone downhill: steadily since being seduced 'by an older homosexual at the age .of 12 or 13, his Honour said. But Martin had taken the; Heading part in the incident: leading to the court appear-; ■ ancc. having wielded a si. ne and pinchbar against Sykes. ’ li:.-; Honour recommended to prison authorities that: they consider segregating 'Martin from other adult [prisoners. 1 Sentencing 1 ito, his Honour said that she claimed to have been rapeti at the age of 12 and had been taking drugs, some of 'them hard, since she was 15. i She, also had five previous j convict ions. ‘ Although she had not Istarted hitting Sykes, she {had applied some pressure; ihe said.