‘Deterrent’ sentences for burglary
The increase in burglary in Christchurch was causing the police and even more importantly the public concern and it behoved the Court as the public’s last line of deflence to deter burglars, Mr Jusioe Roper said In the Supreme Court yesterday. His honour sentenced Edward James Momo and Wade Phillip Smith, both aged 11, unemployed, to 15 months imprisonment on two charges of burglary. A jury had found Momo and Smith guilty rm joint, charges of burglary of the homes of Eliah Mac-Donald Doake in Banks Avenue on November t2 and the home of Paula Ann Esdaile in Hewyood Terrace on December 11. Momo, who was represented by Mr P. M. James, and Smith, who was represented by Mr D. I. Jones, pleaded not guilty to both charges. His Honour said that it was i true that the prisoners obtained nothing from the burg, larles but that was only because of the timely return of the owners. Both Momo and Smith seemed to be work-shy and had de facto wives and
children. Both had had more than their fair share of trouble with the law.
The only bright spot was that Smith had not been in trouble for two years. Both prisoners thought that they could live off the community.
“The important factor to my mind is that the increase in the crime of burglary in Christchurch is causing concern to the police, and more importantly to the public, and it behoves tile Court as the public’s last line of defence to do wnat it can to deter people like you,” his Honour said.
"Counsel have referred to your problems, but I at least can spare a thought for the people whose homes you entered. It must be a disturbing and frightening thing for them to find out that the privacy of their homes has been abused and that their personal property has been pored over by the likes of you. “Both your counsel have suggested that periodic detention would be appropriate. 1 cannot agree with that. It calls for a term of imprisonment despite your ages,” said his Honour
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 7
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354‘Deterrent’ sentences for burglary Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 7
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