Life sentence for murders

Press, 23 August 1979, Page 1

Life sentence for murders

A boy, aged 15, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Casey in the Supreme Court in Christchurch yesterday after he had been found guilty on two charges of murdering his halfbrother, aged five, and his half-sister, aged three. The jury took an hour and 50 minutes to reach its verdicts. It was alleged by the Crown that the boy murdered the two children at their home on March 26 while he was babysitting. The children, who had been left in bed, had become noisy and annoyed the boy while he was watching television. Afterwards, the boy fled from the house to his girlfriend’s place. The defence called no evidence. A written statement made by the boy to the po-

lice was ruled Inadmissable.

Evidence was given that the children died from multiple stab wounds which had been inflicted with considerable force. According to a pathologist. Dr P. R. Kelleher, the boy was stabbed nine times and the girl 13. The mother of the children gave her evidence seated and frequently sobbed. A large public gallery followed the trial and many people waited to hear the verdict.

Messrs N. W. Williamson and I. M. McCaw appeared for the Crown and Messrs R. L. Kerr and G. M. Brodie for the boy. The name of the boy was automatically suppressed because of his age; the names of many of the witnesses were also suppressed. Yeterday’s hearing, Page 7.